CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Commonwealth Games 2014: Marketing

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding has been allocated to promote the Glasgow Commonwealth Games to  (a) domestic and  (b) overseas tourists.

Margaret Hodge: There are no funds allocated by DCMS to promote the Glasgow Commonwealth Games to domestic and overseas tourists.

Culture: Grants

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was awarded in grants by  (a) English Heritage,  (b) the Museums and Libraries Association,  (c) the Arts Council,  (d) Sport England,  (e) UK Sport,  (f) the Heritage Lottery Fund and  (g) the UK Film Council in each year since 1997-98; and what proportion of each was from (i) National Lottery Distribution Fund income and (ii) Exchequer funding.

Margaret Hodge: Figures for the amount awarded in grants in each year since 1997-98, and the proportions that were funded out of national lottery and Exchequer income, as provided by the bodies in question, are set out in the tables. Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole per cent.
	
		
			  (a) English Heritage 
			   Amount awarded in grants (£)  Proportion from lottery (Percentage)  Proportion from Exchequer (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 36,500,000 0 100 
			 1998-99 35,500,000 0 100 
			 1999-2000 35,100,000 0 100 
			 2000-01 34,200,000 0 100 
			 2001-02 33,700,000 0 100 
			 2002-03(1) 34,000,000 0 100 
			 2003-04(1) 32,200,000 0 100 
			 2004-05(1) 31,100,000 0 100 
			 2005-06(1) 32,300,000 0 100 
			 2006-07(1) 31,000,000 0 100 
			 2007-08(1) (1)— 0 100 
			 (1) Does not include approximately £4 million each year of Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund which English Heritage disburses on behalf of DEFRA. (2) Audited figure for 2007-08 not yet available.  Notes: 1. Figures relate to actual spend per year and not to offers made. 2. Grant expenditure has remained around the £30 million mark because English Heritage's Grant-in-Aid allocation, the money it receives from Government to carry out its work, has not kept pace with inflation. 3. Inflation has also had a negative effect on the buying power of English Heritage's grants. The construction industry has its own calculator of inflation; using this, English Heritage's grants over the last seven years have lost out by a cumulative £64 million in buying power. 4. English Heritage disburses its grants through seven main grant schemes: Historic Buildings, Monuments and Designed Landscape scheme, Partnership schemes in Conservation Areas, Cathedral repairs, Repair Grants for Places of Worship in England scheme, Historic Environment Enabling programme, Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and others including War Memorial grants, Capacity Building programmes for the voluntary sector and various grants for local authorities. 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Museums, Libraries and Archives Council 
			   Amount awarded in grants (£)  Proportion from lottery (Percentage)  Proportion from Exchequer (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 — — — 
			 1998-99 — — — 
			 1999-2000 — — — 
			 2000-01 12,376,520 0 100 
			 2001-02 19,590,125 0 100 
			 2002-03 (1)20,318,000 0 100 
			 2003-04 (2)23,861,000 3 97 
			 2004-05 (3)34,633,000 5 95 
			 2005-06 (4)41,380,000 4 96 
			 2006-07 (5)42,128,000 0 100 
			 2007-08 54,933,000 1 99 
			 (1) Includes £30,000 from New Opportunities Fund. (2) Includes £601,000 from Heritage Lottery Fund and £12,000 from NOF. (3) Includes £783,000 from HLF and £992,000 from NOF. (4) Includes £1,070,000 from HLF and £519,000 from NOF. (5 )Includes £336,727 from Big Lottery Fund.  Note: 1. MLA is not a lottery distributor, but has acted on behalf of the sector to draw down lottery funding for programmes and projects. This funding has then been passed on as grants to the sector. 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Arts Council England 
			   Amount awarded in grants (£)  Proportion from lottery (Percentage)  Proportion from Exchequer (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 638,449,000 71 29 
			 1998-99 246,218,000 24 77 
			 1999-2000 396,520,000 46 54 
			 2000- 01 364,237,000 36 64 
			 2001-02 402,240,000 41 59 
			 2002-03 381,785,000 32 68 
			 2003-04 445,227,000 38 62 
			 2004-05 505,981,000 38 62 
			 2005-06 563,329,000 37 63 
			 2006-07 516,321,000 27 73 
			 2007-08 (1)— — — 
			 (1) Not yet available.  Note:  1. 2007-08 figures are currently being audited as part of Arts Council England's year-end accounts preparations and will be laid before Parliament prior to the summer recess. 
		
	
	
		
			  (d) Sport England 
			   Amount awarded in grants (£)  Proportion from lottery (Percentage)  Proportion from Exchequer (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 208,322,000 91 9 
			 1998-99 337,743,000 95 5 
			 1999-2000 166,560,000 87 13 
			 2000-01 350,711,000 93 7 
			 2001-02 500,632,000 94 6 
			 2002-03 302,021,000 79 21 
			 2003-04 180,548,000 89 11 
			 2004-05 237,487,000 79 21 
			 2005-06 215,141,000 73 27 
			 2006-07 216,910,000 58 42 
			 2007-08 198,488,000 55 45 
		
	
	
		
			  (e) UK Sport 
			   Amount awarded in grants (£)  Proportion from lottery (Percentage)  Proportion from Exchequer (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 5,745,000 0 100 
			 1998-99 6,233,000 0 100 
			 1999-2000 24,669,000 77 23 
			 2000-01 32,432,000 81 19 
			 2001-02 29,328,000 80 20 
			 2002-03 30,108,000 78 22 
			 2003-04 32,630,000 57 43 
			 2004-05 34,268,000 46 54 
			 2005-06 34,503,000 51 49 
			 2006-07 80,090,000 56 44 
			 2007-08 99,296,000 47 53 
			 Notes: 1. 1999-2000 was UK Sport's first year as a national lottery distributor, with UK Sport receiving 1.53 per cent. of proceeds, worth over £20 million per year. 2. 2006-07 saw both the transfer of responsibilities from Sport England (including a share of NLDF proceeds up to 3.8 per cent., worth about £50 million per year) and the start of additional Treasury funding to develop an enlarged team for the 2012 Olympic games. 3. Figures for 2007-08 are not yet finalized. 
		
	
	
		
			  (f) Heritage Lottery Fund 
			   Amount awarded in grants (£)  Proportion from lottery (Percentage)  Proportion from Exchequer (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 346,383,524 100 0 
			 1998-99 347,729,046 100 0 
			 1999-2000 281,122,789 100 0 
			 2000-01 338,776,889 100 0 
			 2001-02 306,376,778 100 0 
			 2002-03 330,049,147 100 0 
			 2003-04 315,552,714 100 0 
			 2004-05 362,748,095 100 0 
			 2005-06 317,743,486 100 0 
			 2006-07 314,351,438 100 0 
			 2007-08 276,696,170 100 0 
		
	
	
		
			  (g) UK Film Council 
			   Amount awarded in grants (£)  Proportion from lottery (Percentage)  Proportion from Exchequer (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 — — — 
			 1998-99 — — — 
			 1999-2000 2,442,000 100 — 
			 2000-01 35,210,000 46 54 
			 2001-02 39,101,000 49 51 
			 2002-03 48,780,000 55 45 
			 2003-04 51,782,000 57 43 
			 2004-05 75,593,000 67 33 
			 2005-06 69,966,000 60 40 
			 2006-07 64,829,000 58 42 
			 2007-08 51,345,000 51 49 
			  Notes: 1. UK Film Council was only incorporated in July 1999. In 1999-2000, operations were limited, with only a small number of lottery awards being made. The organization became fully operational as a grant-in-aid and lottery distributor on 1 April 2000. 2. For lottery awards, figures are shown according to the date when the grant was decided/awarded, and not necessarily the date at which funding was paid out. This is consistent with UK Film Council reporting arrangements, and with information published in its annual reports. 3. All amounts are rounded to the nearest £1,000. 4. All figures 1999-2007 are extracted from UK FC audited annual report and accounts. Those for 2007-08 are draft, awaiting audit sign off in July 2008. 5. Fluctuations in levels of lottery awards are due to several factors including the launching of funding streams, and in some cases awards covering a period in excess of one year (e.g. in 2003-04, a three-year delegation of £6,500,000 per annum to Skillset was made—resulting in a soft commitment being recorded of £18,500,000 in that year). Core grant-in-aid activities have remained reasonably constant across the period with the main fluctuations relating to one-off additional funding received and allocated, e.g. the re-development of the bfi Southbank.

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport makes bonus payments to its staff for two purposes: (a) in year special bonuses to reward outstanding contributions in particularly demanding tasks or situations, and (b) end of year performance bonuses to reward highly successful performance over a whole year.
	The table of results sets out awarded performance related bonus results during the 2006-07 financial year—split into the categories requested.
	
		
			   (a) Male  (b) Female  (c) Ethnic minority(declared)  (d) Disabled (declared)  (e) Not-heterosexual (declared) 
			   No.  of staff  %  No.  of staff  %  No.  of staff  %  No.  of staff  %  No.  of staff 
			 In year special bonuses(all grades including SCS) 56 46 65 54 12 10 (1)— — (1)— 
			 End of year performance bonuses (grades A(U)-D) 90 45 111 55 29 15 6 3 (1)— 
			 End of year performance bonuses (SCS only) 20 71 8 29 (1)— — 0 0 (1)— 
			 (1 )We are unable to give exact numbers where there are 5 or less responses from staff as this could breach staff confidentiality.  Notes:  1. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport only started monitoring on sexual orientation at the end of 2006. It will take approximately five years to build up any meaningful data.  2. The information provided relates to the Department only and does not include the Department's non-departmental public bodies or the Royal Parks Executive Agency.  3. The end of year performance bonus for senior civil servants is dealt with at a separate time to other grades, and the information has therefore been presented to reflect this.  4. We are unable to give exact numbers where there are five or less responses from staff as this could breach staff confidentiality.  5. For reference—there are four grades below the senior civil service, which broadly equate to former civil service grades as follows:  Grade A(U)—former grade 6. Grade A—former grades 6/7. Grade B—former SEO/HEO/HEO(D) and equivalent grades. Grade C—former EO and equivalent grades.  Grade D—former AO/AA and equivalent grades.

Gambling: Young People

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what programmes of research are in place to establish the number of under-age gamblers in the UK.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The National Lottery Commission's ongoing research programme includes regular tracking surveys of 12 to 15-year-olds to monitor underage play of the national lottery. This research includes information on underage participation in other gambling activities.
	The research is published in the underage research section of the National Lottery Commission's website:
	http://www.natlotcomm.gov.uk/UploadDocs/Contents/Documents/Under%2016s%20and%20the%20National %20Lottery_Final%20reportpdf
	The Gambling Commission has also commissioned a literature review on children and gambling which is due to be published in the summer.

National Heritage Memorial Fund: Manpower

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 6 June 2008
	 The National Heritage Memorial Fund (which administers the Heritage Lottery Fund) has advised that it employs 258 permanent staff, some of whom work part-time.

National Lottery: Armed Forces

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many  (a) successful and  (b) unsuccessful applications for Lottery funding from military and naval charities there were in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the amount was of Lottery funding  (a) applied for by and  (b) granted to military and naval charities in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Big Lottery Fund has supplied DCMS with the following information:
	
		
			  Applications from and awards to military and naval charities 
			  Decision in year ending 31 March  Applications  Awards  Requested (£)  Awarded (£) 
			 1997 55 6 3,877,585 171,293 
			 1998 57 12 3,672,892 22,477 
			 1999 70 27 2,099,757 155,949 
			 2000 133 53 1,583,599 363,698 
			 2001 121 52 2,099,656 145,042 
			 2002 84 48 2,052,060 205,710 
			 2003 131 65 699,679 235,841 
			 2004 154 112 1,232,810 522,892 
			 2005 479 433 2,331,059 2,767,893 
			 2006 722 640 3,479,621 2,828,672 
			 2007 181 107 1,121,144 557,411 
			 2008 148 70 2,364,196 397,343 
		
	
	In addition, the Heroes Return programme made a number of grants to individual veterans rather than to charities:
	
		
			  Decision in year ending 31 March  Applications  Awards  Requested (£)  Awarded (£) 
			 2005 8,803 8,667 (1)— 8,193,613 
			 2006 5,293 5,167 (1)— 5,956,699 
			 2007 2 2 (1)— 2,975 
			 (1) No meaningful data. 
		
	
	These data were created using a comprehensive relevant word search from the Big Lottery Fund's database as there is not a field that breaks grants down using this categorisation. For this reason a small number of grants to military and naval charities may not have been included. Conversely there may be grants included that have been delivered to related applicants such as Royal British Legion Social Clubs.
	This data include Awards For All and Home Front Recall Grants.
	The Heritage Lottery Fund has also awarded lottery grants to military and naval charities, but is unable to supply this detailed information within the time allowed. I will write to the hon. Member for Westbury with this additional information and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

Visit Britain

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects the review of Visit Britain to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 12 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1375W.

WALES

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 922W, on departmental pay, how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their 2006-07 appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority and  (d) disabled; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Wales Office staff are on two separate pay and performance systems. Those staff on Welsh Assembly government terms do not receive performance-related bonuses.
	The remaining staff are on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) system. This is a pay system that recognises good performance by its employees. Performance is assessed under the common Performance management system. For employees whose performance is rated as 'Exceeded' a small bonus is paid along with the annual pay increase. Those who achieve "Succeeded" receive the normal pay increase and those with a 'Not met' marking received no award.
	For the 2006-07 reporting year, there were 28 staff on the MoJ reporting system. Of these, five received a small bonus in addition to the annual pay increase (three male; two female).
	In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Wales Office does not publish information about disabilities for reasons of privacy. For the same reason I am unable to provide figures for bonuses paid to those staff from an ethnic minority.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department's green transport plan was introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of this plan.

Paul Murphy: My Department is currently producing a sustainable development action plan (SDAP), which will include a green transport plan, but it is yet to be finalised.
	The Wales Office is a small Department associated with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) for services. Plans for green transport will be compiled by MOJ and include the Wales Office. We plan to place our part of the plan, when completed later this year, on our website
	www.walesoffice.gov.uk
	Staff are already encouraged to use videoconference equipment for meetings between our two sites to negate the need for travel.
	We offset our carbon footprint from travel through PURE, the clean planet trust, a DEFRA recommended company. We are signing up to the DEFRA Government Departments, controlled offsetting site.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Contracts

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many contracts for the 2012 Olympic Games have been awarded to companies in the boroughs of  (a) Greenwich,  (b) Hackney,  (c) Newham,  (d) Tower Hamlets,  (e) Waltham Forest and  (f) London as a whole.

Tessa Jowell: To date, the Olympic Delivery Authority has awarded 83 contracts to businesses in the five Olympic host boroughs. The contracts awarded by borough breakdown as follows:
	
		
			   Contracts 
			 Greenwich 10 
			 Hackney 12 
			 Newham 21 
			 Tower Hamlets 34 
			 Waltham Forest 6 
		
	
	The Olympic Delivery Authority has awarded over 650 contracts to date, of these 365 are to businesses registered in London.

Olympic Games 2012: Contracts

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many contracts for the London 2012 Olympic Games have been made; and what proportion this represents of the total number of contracts currently available for tender.

Tessa Jowell: I am awaiting the latest data from the Olympic Delivery Authority and will provide the information as soon as it is available.

Olympic Games 2012: Contracts

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many contracts for the 2012 Olympic Games have been awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Northern Ireland and  (d) Scotland.

Tessa Jowell: To date, the Olympic Delivery Authority has awarded contracts to over 650 suppliers. The national breakdown showing micro to medium-sized businesses is as follows:
	
		
			   Contracts 
			  England  
			 Medium 118 
			 Small 97 
			 Micro 173 
			   
			  Wales  
			 Medium 0 
			 Small 0 
			 Micro 2 
			   
			  NI (1)— 
			   
			  Scotland  
			 Medium 0 
			 Small 1 
			 Micro 3 
			 (1) One business registered in Northern Ireland has supplied the ODA to date, and this is categorised as a large business 
		
	
	Many of the opportunities for small and medium- sized business will exist in the London 2012 supply chains. In addition to establishing the London 2012 Business Network, which gives businesses across the country access to opportunities in the supply chains, over the last year the ODA has visited each of the UK's nations and regions to raise awareness of the business opportunities generated by the 2012 Games.

Olympic Games 2012: Housing

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many and what proportion of units of accommodation in the athletes' village will be used for affordable housing after the 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 9 June 2008
	By 2012, up to 3,500 residential units will have been built for use as athletes' accommodation in the Olympic Village. Following the Games, the Olympic Village will become a high quality, sustainable community. The athletes' accommodation will be converted into residential homes and be supplemented by additional residential housing, the full details of which are still being developed. The residential housing will be complemented by public spaces, health and education facilities, and much improved transport links.
	30 per cent. of residential units in legacy will be affordable housing for sale and rent.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Domestic Violence

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many offences of domestic abuse were committed in  (a) A District Command Unit area,  (b) B District Command Unit area and  (c) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) age and (ii) sex of the victim; and how many of these were repeat offences in each year.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows recorded crimes with a domestic motivation broken down by age over 17 years and age under 17 years and by gender for (i) A district Command and (ii) B District Command. Due to a change in systems, comparable statistics are available only from 2004-05. Information on the number of repeat offences is not available.
	
		
			  Recorded crimes with a domestic motivation: gender and age of victims, a and b districts and Northern Ireland 2004-05 to 2007-08 
			   Females 17 and over  Males 17 and over  Children under 17  Gender/age unknown( 1)  Total Offences 
			  A District  
			 2004-05 863 204 56 29 1,152 
			 2005-06 927 230 61 209 1,427 
			 2006-07 795 231 65 157 1,248 
			 2007-08 863 237 59 193 1,352 
			   
			  B District  
			 2004-05 501 176 33 12 722 
			 2005-06 582 211 41 160 994 
			 2006-07 578 211 42 91 922 
			 2007-08 533 189 37 100 859 
			   
			  Northern Ireland  
			 2004-05 6,005 1,851 488 164 8,508 
			 2005-06 6,463 2,122 539 1,644 10,768 
			 2006-07 6,218 2,057 572 1,268 10,115 
			 2007-08 5,621 1,773 562 1,327 9,283 
			 (1) Gender/age unknown figures include the offence of breach of non molestation order from 2005-06 onwards. Breaches of non molestation orders have been counted as offences in Northern Ireland under the Home Office Counting Rules from 1 April 2005.  Source: Central Statistics Unit, PSNI

Domestic Violence

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of domestic abuse offences in Northern Ireland occurred during the Christmas/New Year period in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows incident and crime figures by year, number over Christmas period, and Christmas period as a percentage of the complete year. Due to a change in systems, comparable statistics are available only from 2004-05.
	
		
			   Number for complete year  Number for period 24 December to 1 January  24 December to 1 January as percentage of complete year 
			  Domestic incidents
			 2004-05 20,959 810 3.9 
			 2005-06 23,059 808 3.5 
			 2006-07 23,456 864 3.7 
			 2007-08 23,076 832 3.6 
			 
			  Domestic crimes
			 2004-05 8,508 347 4.1 
			 2005-06 10,768 370 3.4 
			 2006-07 10,115 333 3.3 
			 2007-08 9,283 310 3.3 
			  Source: Central Statistics Unit, PSNI

Domestic Violence

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many domestic abuse offences were committed by ex-partners of victims in  (a) A District Command Unit area,  (b) B District Command Unit area and  (c) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The Police Service for Northern Ireland has advised that it is not possible to provide figures for domestic abuse offences committed by ex-partners of victims.

Firearms: Belfast

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many burglaries and robberies in Belfast North constituency involved the use of firearms in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people were  (a) killed and  (b) injured in Belfast North constituency by the use of firearms in the last five years, broken down by (i) age and (ii) sex.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has provided the following answer:
	Statistics are captured on the basis of police districts and areas, and therefore the information requested is not readily available.
	The Chief Constable will write to the hon. Member to provide answers in due course, and the letters will be placed in the House Library.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Driving Under Influence

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many serving members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland were convicted of drink-driving offences in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The following table details the number of serving members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland who have been convicted for drink driving and related offences in each of the last 10 years.
	
		
			   Number of officers convicted 
			 1998 9 
			 1999 14 
			 2000 14 
			 2001 10 
			 2002 14 
			 2003 14 
			 2004 12 
			 2005 9 
			 2006 22 
			 2007 7 
		
	
	Ministers and the PSNI take this issue very seriously, and an officer convicted by a court of a drink driving offence can expect to face a formal disciplinary hearing. This hearing can result in dismissal or a requirement to resign. A discipline panel will always treat each case on its own merits but officers presiding at such hearings must apply their judgement to the facts of the case to consider whether an alternative sanction could be justified.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Recruitment

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what effect the dismissal of a police service trainee from one community for  (a) misconduct and  (b) illegal activity has on the complement of trainees from another community under the policies established for recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The temporary 50:50 arrangements, as set out in section 46(1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000, apply only to recruitment. Once an appointed candidate has entered training they no longer apply. The dismissal of a trainee from one community, for whatever the reason, has no effect on the complement of trainees from another community.

Proscribed Organisations

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent assessment is of the risk posed by Republican terrorist groups.

Paul Goggins: The 18(th) IMC Report published on 1 May highlighted that, while they have no support across the wider community, dissident republican groups still pose a threat to the security situation and remain intent on doing what they can to destabilise the political institutions. Recent events have underlined this assessment.
	I have every confidence in the PSNI's ability to deal with dissident republicans; the PSNI, intelligence agencies and the Gardai are to be commended for their recent successful operations against these dissident groups.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Church of England: Property

Karen Buck: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what provision was made upon the sale of the Church Commission properties in Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark to prevent open market property sales and market rentals.

Stuart Bell: The sale of these residential properties by the Church Commissioners, a private charitable landlord, to a partnership between Grainger plc, a leading publically listed residential investor and Genesis, one of the country's largest housing associations, did not seek to prevent the new owners from undertaking open market property sales or achieving open market rentals where appropriate. These rights were available to the Commissioners who operated a policy of mixed rental levels during their ownership, and to have sought to exclude them from a sale would have significantly reduced the price achieved, and breached the Commissioners' legal and fiduciary responsibilities.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Welsh Language

Stephen Crabb: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what recent representations the Electoral Commission has received on the provision of services in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it was notified by the Welsh Assembly Government on 18 April 2008 that it will be included in a tranche of bodies required by the end of August 2008 to prepare Welsh Language Schemes under the Welsh Language Act 1993.
	The Electoral Commission has since 1 March 2004 had a voluntary Welsh Language Scheme in place which aims to ensure that Welsh and English speaking stakeholders have access to a consistent service in their preferred language. The Commission is working to ensure that the transition from a voluntary to statutory scheme is achieved effectively.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in delivering Mastiff vehicles to Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Good progress is being made with the next tranche of Mastiff vehicles and their delivery to theatre will begin later this year.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Trojan and  (b) Terrier vehicles are deployed in Helmand province; and what their role is.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no Trojan or Terrier armoured engineering vehicles currently deployed to Helmand province.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what force protection measures are in place at Kandahar airbase; and who is responsible for force protection measures at Kandahar airbase.

Des Browne: Force protection measures at Kandahar airfield employ multiple layers of defence, including protective equipment and infrastructure, operations to disrupt attacks against the base together with tactics, techniques and procedures designed to minimise the chance of a successful attack. I am withholding further details as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Aircraft Carriers: Military Aircraft

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has made of the merits of using Rafale aircraft for the planned aircraft carriers.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1356W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames).

Aircraft Carriers: Nuclear Power

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the merits of converting the design of the two future aircraft carriers to nuclear power.

Bob Ainsworth: Nuclear power was one of the options considered during the concept phase of the future aircraft carrier project but it was discounted primarily for reasons of cost, of both the ships themselves and the infrastructure required.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much manpower will be required for the  (a) operation,  (b) maintenance and  (c) training use of the 2000 provisionally proposed Piranha V vehicles; and which sections of the Army will use the vehicles.

Bob Ainsworth: The manpower that will be needed to operate, maintain and train for the FRES utility vehicle fleet will be determined by the number of vehicles that we buy and that number has yet to be fixed. The overall planning figures suggest that FRES will provide fleet of over 3,000 vehicles and that the utility vehicle will make up just over half the total fleet; however, precise fleet requirements for each FRES family are subject to change as the requirement matures and will not be confirmed until the main investment decisions are taken. It would therefore be premature to provide any further detail on manpower figures at this stage.
	The utility vehicle family will be deployed in a range of battlefield roles. The protected mobility roles will be deployed principally in the infantry battalions that will be a central component of the mechanised brigades. The remaining utility roles will be deployed in a range of units across the medium and heavy forces.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the cost per vehicle is of each design role category of the Piranha V vehicle;
	(2)  what the cost per vehicle is of the appliqué armour for each Piranha V vehicle;
	(3)  what the projected in-service date for the future rapid effect system utility vehicle is.

Bob Ainsworth: Piranha 5 is the provisionally preferred utility vehicle design at this stage. The cost per vehicle of each of the FRES utility vehicle, any costs associated with fitting additional armour protection and the planned in-service date will be fixed at the main investment decision.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armoured heavy wheeled tractors have been purchased by his Department; and at what cost.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department procured 25 armoured heavy wheeled tractors between 1999 and 2000. The procurement cost is estimated to have been approximately £7.5 million.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armoured heavy wheeled tractors have been disposed of by his Department; to whom; and at what cost.

Bob Ainsworth: The full complement of 25 armoured heavy wheeled tractors was transferred to the Amey Lex Consortium (ALC) in 2005. ALC was contracted, under a private finance initiative (PFI) to provide 16 serviceable vehicles to meet the total fleet requirement, on the basis that the PFI would provide increased availability. As a result nine of the vehicles became the property of ALC for disposal.
	In terms of cost, the inventory transfer agreement for the C vehicle contract was worth £40 million and the armoured heavy wheeled tractors formed part of this arrangement. By transferring rather than selling the inventory, MOD was able to secure a reduced daily hire rate over the duration of the contract (2005-20). Additionally, the Department receives a gain share from the sale of any legacy assets (vehicles and spares), which to date amounts to approximately £1 million and is likely to be significantly more through the life of the programme.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the armoured heavy wheeled tractors offered to the Amey Lex Consortium were part of the C category vehicle inventory.

Bob Ainsworth: Yes, in 2005 a range of equipments, historically classed as C vehicles, engineer construction plant equipment, mechanical handling equipment and cranes were transferred to the C vehicle PFI project with the Amey Lex Consortium (now ALC Ltd).

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the present C category vehicle contract between his Department and Amey Lex Consortium (ALC) permits his Department to require ALC to acquire specific types of vehicles; and whether under any circumstances ALC can refuse to accept C category vehicle types in the possession of the Army onto its inventory.

Bob Ainsworth: The C vehicle PFI contract requires the contractor to deliver a specified list of 144 capabilities. The requirements are mainly output based but in some cases, due to the nature of the task, allude to a particular type of vehicle.
	The C vehicle PFI project has been delivering full service for two years, all contractual obligations regarding the transfer of eligible army equipment are concluded. Where a new capability short fall is identified an investment appraisal will be conducted and should the C vehicle PFI be the best value for money mechanism for its delivery, this will be subject to the negotiation of a contract amendment.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions exist for his Department to acquire and maintain C category vehicles outside the scope of the contract with Amey Lex Consortium.

Bob Ainsworth: The C vehicle PFI contract, with ALC Ltd, is exclusive only to those equipment capabilities stated within the contract and within the numbers therein. Where the Department require additional capability by either type or number, the provision of that capability is subject to normal investment appraisal procedures and may be provided either within the PFI, through a contract amendment, or separately through conventional procurement.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Army FV430s  (a) are to receive and  (b) have been fitted with (i) a new engine and drive train, (ii) a package of armour, (iii) a remotely-operated machine gun and (iv) other improvements; how many have been made available to troops deployed on operations; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The conversion programme of FV430s involves 900 vehicles. 532 of these have been fitted with a new engine and drive train, a large number have been up-armoured and some have been fitted with a remotely operated machine gun. I am withholding further information as its release would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of the armed forces. Likewise I am withholding the number of FV430s available to troops deployed on operations.
	Other improvements include air-conditioning, thermal blanket, wirecutter, enhanced electronic counter measures, protected weapon station, drivers night vision system, vehicle integrated personal role radio, new drivers hatch and other armour improvements. The ambulance variant has been fitted with a coolbox (for medical supplies) and a thermal imaging reversing camera.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planned in-service dates for the Future Rapid Effects System.

Bob Ainsworth: In common with all defence equipment programmes, the in-service dates for the future rapid effect system family of armoured vehicles will be fixed at the main investment decisions. It is our policy not to release or discuss in-service dates ahead of the main investment decision.

AWE Burghfield

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2138W, on AWE Burghfield, in what way the emergency arrangements infrastructure at AWE Burghfield was affected by the July 2007 flooding; and what steps have been taken to remedy the situation.

Bob Ainsworth: As a consequence of the flooding in July 2007, the fallback incident control room, fallback medical centre and health physics support areas at AWE Burghfield sustained some damage. Contingency arrangements were put in place to ensure full emergency response could be activated if required. These were considered by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) to be adequate at all times for the activities being undertaken. On 22 April 2008, AWE Burghfield undertook its annual exercise on emergency response arrangements, witnessed by the NII, who considered that the exercise adequately demonstrated AWE Burghfield's capability in this area.

AWE Burghfield

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2008,  Official Report, column 178W, on AWE Burghfield, how many of the safety shortfalls identified at AWE Burghfield by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate remain outstanding; and what the target date is for remedial work to be completed.

Bob Ainsworth: The safety case issues to which the hon. Member refers were identified not by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, but by AWE plc in its own Periodic Review of Safety. In my answer on 15 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1132W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock), I indicated that 50 work packages were due for completion by 31 March 2008 and that the remaining 53 were scheduled to be complete by the end of the year. The 50 work packages were completed by the due date. The remainder remain on course for completion, as planned.

Bombs

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to destroy the UK's stock of cluster munitions; what the estimated costs of so doing is; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: We will dispose of UK cluster munition stockpiles in accordance with the provisions in the adopted convention. We are assessing the likely costs of disposal and these will be made available to the House as soon as they are known.

Finmeccanica

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date Sir Kevin Tebbit joined the board of Finmeccanica UK.

Bob Ainsworth: That is a matter for Finmeccanica.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Procurement

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planned in-service dates for the Joint Strike Fighter.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support in the other place on 8 January 2007,  Official Report, column WA8. We will not be setting in-service dates for the joint combat aircraft (JCA) until we take the main investment decision, and we will take that decision when the project is sufficiently mature. The joint strike fighter remains our preferred solution to meet the JCA requirement and our current plans for JCA remain coherent with the CVF programme.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ukrainian helicopters are being used by UK forces in current operations; and where they are being used.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence does not own, nor has it contracted for, any Ukrainian helicopters for use by UK forces in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Snatch Land Rovers are deployed in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Iraq.

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what percentage of  (a) CRVT,  (b) Saxon,  (c) Warrior and  (d) Challenger vehicles are in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan;
	(2)  how many Mastiffs are in theatre in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan;
	(3)  how many Challenger tanks have been used in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan; and what percentage this represents of all tanks used.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no Challenger 2 tanks deployed to Afghanistan and similarly there are no CVRT or Saxon vehicles deployed to Iraq.
	I am withholding the rest of the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Peacekeeping Operations: Manpower

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are serving in United Nations or other peacekeeping forces; and in which countries they are serving.

Bob Ainsworth: As at 26 May 2008 there were 300 UK service personnel deployed on UN operations, 280 of whom were located in Cyprus. Other locations include Georgia, Nepal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia.
	The following table shows the number of UK service personnel deployed on operations by location at 26 May 2008. The number of personnel in theatre will naturally fluctuate on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including leave (rest and recuperation), temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces and other factors.
	
		
			  Number of personnel deployed by location( 1) 
			  Location  Number 
			 Total 15,120 
			  O f which:  
			 Afghanistan 8,200 
			 Iraq 4,500 
			 Kuwait(2) 900 
			 Qatar 420 
			 Kosovo 330 
			 Cyprus 280 
			 Oman 260 
			 At sea 80 
			 Bahrain 80 
			 Bosnia 10 
			 Other 25 
			 (1) Countries with 10 or more personnel are shown separately. Other countries with fewer than 10 personnel per country include Georgia, Nepal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. (2) Figures for Kuwait are artificially high due to a current Operation Telic Relief In Place (RIP) operation. 
		
	
	UK forces are currently deployed on a wide range of missions, under differing mandates, in a number of countries across the world including those conducted under the auspices of the UN, EU and NATO. The number of UK service personnel serving in these countries is detailed above. The majority of these missions comprise, to one degree or another, activity that could be fairly described as peacekeeping.

Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value of Ministry of Defence property sold in Scotland was in the last  (a) year,  (b) five years,  (c) 10 years and  (d) 20 years.

Derek Twigg: Disposal receipts arising from Ministry of Defence property sales in Scotland since 2000-01 total £124.6 million. This includes £23.6 million in 2007-08 (subject to final audit) and £77.4 million for property sold over the last five financial years. Figures for the years before 2000-01 are not available.

Submarines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the detailed concept design stage of the Vanguard successor submarines; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Following the parliamentary vote in support of the Government's decisions on the future of the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent on 14 March 2007, a collaborative MOD/industry team was formed to take work forward. The team is halfway through the concept phase of the programme, and is working to develop the information and realistic options needed to deliver a robust Initial Gate Business Case in late 2009.

TRANSPORT

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1417W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what the value was of Fairtrade produce purchased at her Department's staff catering facilities in each of the last three years; and what proportion of total expenditure this represented.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain this data for the Department (including seven executive agencies) would incur disproportionate cost.
	However, it has been estimated that at our main London HQ building the total annual value of Fairtrade purchases is £13,608 and this represents approximately 5 per cent. of total expenditure.
	The value of Fairtrade produce purchased by the Vehicle Certification Agency during the six months it has been purchasing Fairtrade products is £1,340.
	Purchases undertaken by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Driving Standards Agency, Highways Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency are not separately recorded.

Lorries: Excise Duties

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicles entered the UK from the EU in each of the last three years; and what taxes were imposed per lorry in road tax and other charges.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department collects and publishes data on the numbers of heavy goods vehicles travelling to mainland Europe by vehicle nationality. A breakdown of the data for the last three years is provided in the following table, representing outwards journeys only. Inwards journeys are not collected.
	The equivalent data for vehicles travelling to the Republic of Ireland by ferry and across the Irish land boundary are not available.
	
		
			  Powered road goods vehicles travelling to mainland Europe by country of registration 
			  Thousand vehicles 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			 UK 418 406 400 
			 EU(1) 1,407 1,473 1,623 
			 Non-EU(2) 106 134 96 
			 Unknown 10 9 11 
			 Total 1,941 2,021 2,129 
			 (1) For 2005 and 2006, does not include Bulgaria and Romania (2 )For 2005 and 2006, includes Bulgaria and Romania 
		
	
	EU law is clear that member state policy measures may not inhibit the freedom of movement of goods and may not discriminate (directly or indirectly) according to nationality of haulier or the origin or destination of a vehicle. This of itself precludes any lump-sum tax levied specifically on entry to the UK.

Motorways: Speed Limits

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for the  (a) 50 mile per hour speed limit around the roadworks north of junction 6 on the M1 motorway and  (b) 40 mile per hour speed limit at the roadworks on the M40 in the vicinity of junction 1; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The 50 mph speed limit on the M1 north of junction 6 is in place for the duration of the widening works between Junctions 6a and 10, to ensure the safety of roadworkers and road users. The 50 mph speed limit starts at Junction 6 for traffic to flow into the contraflow and safely past the works area.
	The 40 mph speed limit is from Swakeleys roundabout on the A40 to M40 J1 at the Denham roundabout, while strengthening and parapet replacement work is being carried out on the Denham Viaduct.
	The 40 mph speed limit is in place for the safety of roadworkers and road users, particularly cyclists who could use the narrow lanes during the works on the A40.

Motorways: Speed Limits

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will issue guidance to the Highways Agency on operating a consistent policy towards speed limits on motorways when roadworks are taking place in different areas.

Tom Harris: National advice on setting temporary speed limits is given in Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8, which is developed by the Highways Agency on behalf of the Department for Transport. This identifies appropriate speed limits based on the relative risk to road users. The Highways Agency produced additional advice in July 2007 (Chief Highways Engineer Memo 203/07) on how to apply temporary speed limits at road works using the risk based approach in Chapter 8.

Motorways: Speed Limits

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for the 50 mile per hour speed limit remaining in force on the southbound carriageway north of junction 9 of the M1 motorway after the opening of four carriageways to traffic.

Tom Harris: The 50 mph speed restriction remains in place for the following reasons.
	There are still elements of work to be completed, which may impact on the safety of the travelling public. This mainly involves work to the safety fencing.
	Once the safety fence work has been completed, there will still be a safety concern for both the work force and the travelling public. This is because if the 50 mph speed limit is removed, it will mean that four lanes of traffic travelling at 70 mph will be merging into a 50 mph three lane section, where work is still continuing. This could result in an increase in incidents and cause further delays.
	However, with consultation with the police force, once all safety works are complete on this section, the 50 mph section will be moved to just south of junction 10. This will return as much carriageway as possible to 70 mph, while still maintaining as safe an environment as possible for traffic entering the 50 mph works section.

Parking: Enforcement

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on the applicability of parking regulations to parking enforcement vehicles.

Rosie Winterton: It is for the traffic authority to consider the nature of the parking restriction at any particular place and include, in the associated Traffic Regulation Order, any exceptions or exemptions that would allow enforcement vehicles to park.

Parking: Enforcement

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on the number of councils using CCTV cars for the enforcement of parking restrictions.

Rosie Winterton: Traffic authorities wishing to use CCTV equipment for civil parking enforcement must obtain certification for the equipment from the Secretary of State. This option has only been available to authorities outside London since new legislation under the Traffic Management Act 2004 came into force on 31 March 2008. One authority, Medway council, has since applied for, and been granted, such certification. London traffic authorities have had local powers to enforce parking with cameras since 2000 and have until 30 March 2009 to obtain certification under the new TMA legislation. We do not have records of systems used by the London authorities.

Railway Stations

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many stations there are on the national rail network; how many stations on the national rail network are wholly unstaffed; and how many stations on the national rail network are staffed from the beginning to the end of traffic.

Tom Harris: There are currently 2,515 stations owned by Network Rail on the national rail network. Information about staffing levels at these stations is a matter either for Network Rail at its managed stations or for the relevant train operating company at the franchised stations.

Railways: Bus Services

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether her Department and its agencies compensate the operators of rail replacement bus services in the event of  (a) planned and  (b) emergency rail closures;
	(2)  what role is played by Network Rail in the administration and funding of rail replacement bus services;
	(3)  what proportion of the cost of deployment of rail replacement bus services is met by  (a) her Department,  (b) Network Rail and  (c) train operating companies.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport and its agencies do not have any role in the specifying, tendering and funding of bus-operated rail replacement rail services. Train operators are responsible for securing alternatives for rail services, should it not be possible to operate the specified rail service in full.
	Rail replacement bus services are funded by train operators, who receive compensation from Network Rail for these and other expenses incurred (such as lost farebox revenue or staff costs) as a result of disruption to normal scheduled services caused by engineering works. The arrangements for compensation are specified within train operators' track access agreements with Network Rail.

Railways: Fares

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with  (a) the Mayor of London,  (b) Transport for London and  (c) train operating companies to establish and extend the use of Oyster pre-pay on London's train networks.

Rosie Winterton: In May 2006 the Secretary of State and Mayor of London announced that they intended to enable mainline railway stations in London to accept Oyster 'Pay As You Go', and to make the Oyster network in London accept ITSO smart cards.
	Regular discussions, including commercial and contractual negotiations, are taking place between the Department, Transport for London and train operating companies on its implementation.

Railways: Fares

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations she has had with train operating companies on the provision of e-ticketing on the UK rail network.

Tom Harris: The introduction of ITSO smartcards has been mandated in the most recently let rail franchises. The Department is also discussing with the Association of Train Operating Companies other aspects of modern ticket retailing as set out in last year's White Paper 'Delivering a Sustainable Railway'.
	The Department for Transport, Transport for London and train operators are working together on the acceptance of Oyster 'Pay as You Go' at London train stations and the acceptance of ITSO Smartcards on Oyster equipment. Commercial and contractual negotiations are taking place.

Railways: Greater London

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many overground train stations in Greater London have been re-zoned in the last 20 years; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Since 2005, when the Secretary of State became responsible for approving changes to the zonal map, the following stations have been re-zoned.
	
		
			  Station  Current zone  Proposed to move to zone 
			 Epsom Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Ewell East Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Ewell West Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Stoneleigh Zone 6 Zone 5 
			 Purfleet Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Roding Valley Zone 5 Zone 4 
			 Chigwell Zone 5 Zone 4 
			 Grange Hill Zone 5 Zone 4 
			 Hainault Zone 5 Zone 4 
			 Fairlop Zone 5 Zone 4 
			 Barkingside Zone 5 Zone 4 
			 Hampstead Heath Zone 3 Zone 2 
			 Acton Central Zone 2 Zone 3 
			 Willesden Junction Zone 3 Zone 2/3 boundary 
			 Banstead Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Caterham Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Chipstead Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Epsom Downs Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Kingswood Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Tadworth Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Tattenham Corner Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Upper Warlingham Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Whyteleafe Outboundary Zone 6 
			 Whyteleafe South Outboundary Zone 6

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the new carriages announced in the High Level Output Statement have been ordered.

Tom Harris: holding answer 4 June 2008
	317 vehicles have been ordered from manufacturers. The first is due for delivery in October 2008.

Trains

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many expressions of interest she has received in supplying a fleet of trains under the InterCity Express Programme; and from which organisations such expressions have been received.

Tom Harris: Tenders for the InterCity Express programme are scheduled to be received on 30 June 2008 from two short-listed bidders, namely Express Rail Alliance (comprising Siemens, Bombardier, Angel Trains and Babcock and Brown) and Hitachi Europe.

Trains

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects a new fleet of trains supplied under the InterCity Express Programme to be fully operational; and on which routes she expects such trains to operate.

Tom Harris: The first pre-series trains are scheduled to be tested in 2013, with the first fleet deployed into passenger service on the East Coast Main Line from 2015. Bidders are also tendering proposals for the Great Western Main Line, plus options for further deployment on west coast and cross-country routes.

Trains

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the deadline for receipt of tenders to build trains under the InterCity Express Programme was extended.

Tom Harris: The original deadline for receipt of tenders was put back, at the request of both bidders, to allow them more time to complete their submissions. Robust bids are expected from both consortia on 30 June. The new deadline is not expected to have any effect on timescales for deployment of the new trains.

West Coast Railway Line: Fares

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received on the recent West Coast Mainline fare increases on the Holyhead to Euston route; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The Department for Transport has received a small number of letters and phone calls from members of the public and MPs on the subject.
	Virgin Trains have introduced a time restriction on the outward portion of the standard saver return fare on this route. This is not a fares increase, but a restriction on the time of day that the fare can be used. The rules around saver fares permit the restriction of the time of travel so long as it is valid for outward travel after 10.30 am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Virgin Trains are operating within the permitted rules.
	It is worth noting that Virgin Trains do offer a range of advance purchase fares that can be used on these earlier services as a cheaper alternative to the standard open return fare. These fares are train specific, priced on a single leg basis and are quota controlled.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Shows: South West

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to ensure that agricultural shows in Devon and Cornwall are not affected by changes in the rules related to bluetongue restrictions.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 9 Jun e 2008
	We are currently in the process of rolling out a bluetongue vaccination programme across England. This means that as batches of vaccine are delivered, the protection zone is being steadily expanded to allow more counties to vaccinate their livestock.
	We are aware of the effect this has on different areas of the farming industry, and are in regular contact with the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO) with regard to the large agricultural shows that may be affected by zone changes.
	On the condition that additional vaccine would become available and the overall disease situation in England would not change, we had planned to expand the protection zone into Cornwall last week. However, this could not happen as the batch of vaccine we were expecting needs to undergo further testing before it can be released. Opening up the protection zone into Cornwall without a new delivery of vaccine would go against the roll-out strategy and was rejected on the grounds of veterinary risk.
	The Royal Cornwall Show (5-7 June) has been affected as it remains in the surveillance zone, which therefore limits the number of animals that could travel to the show because of the associated restrictions on movements out of a protection zone. We have been in contact with the organisers of the show, to keep them informed of the changing plans.

Agriculture: Subsidies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to increase funding under Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will take steps to make the process of modulating monies more transparent.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government's longer term vision for the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is to end Pillar 1 in the period 2015-20, leaving the CAP targeted at providing environmental benefits through Pillar 2. Therefore, we support the Commission's proposals in the current CAP health check to provide for increased compulsory modulation for all member states in order to provide additional funding through Pillar 2 to address new environmental challenges.
	We will be in close discussion with key farming and environmental organisations on the implications of the CAP health check, including proposals for modulation of direct farm payments, in the coming months.

Animal Welfare: EC Action

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to incorporate the British Animal Health and Welfare Strategy into the forthcoming EU model.

Jonathan R Shaw: The EU Animal Health Strategy and the British Animal Health and Welfare Strategy are complementary strategies and there are no plans for incorporation.

Animals: Diseases

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been allocated to research into endemic animal diseases for 2008-09; and how much was spent on such research in each of the last five years, broken down by disease.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA maintain a wide-ranging research programme of livestock endemic diseases. The following table gives details of how much has been spent (in £ million) on this programme since 2003:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Bovine TB  Endemic zoonoses( 1)  Endemic diseases (not zoonoses)( 2)  Total budget endemic disease programmes 
			 2003-04 6.7 3.2 2.3 12.2 
			 2004-05 5.5 2.6 2.4 10.5 
			 2005-06 6.4 2.2 2.5 11.1 
			 2006-07 6.3 2.7 2.4 11.4 
			 2007-08 6.1 2.5 2.5 11.1 
			 2008-09(3) 6.0 2.4 2.6 11.0 
			 (1) Endemic zoonoses include Salmonella, Campylobacter, E coli 0157 and Cryptosporidium. (2) The endemic diseases (not zoonoses) programme includes projects on Bovine Virus Diarrhoea (BVD), Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), mastitis, coccidiosis, sheep gastro-intestinal nematodes, sheep scab, Avian Infectious Bronchitis, Marek's Disease, avian leucosis virus and antimicrobial resistance. (3) Estimated spend for 2008/09.

Bluetongue Disease: Disease Control

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the financial impact on livestock markets in  (a) Devon and  (b) England of bluetongue movement restrictions.

Jonathan R Shaw: The UK bluetongue control strategy is regularly reviewed with a core group of industry stakeholders, taking into account the latest disease and epidemiological situation, the control measures in place and the effect these measures have on the farming industry as a whole.
	To date livestock markets in Devon have not specifically been analysed; however, the effect of the bluetongue restriction zones on the movement of animals in England (which includes movements through markets) has been considered in a cost-benefit analysis, which can be found on the DEFRA website.
	Through the core group, DEFRA has regular access to specific expertise on the impact of bluetongue control measures on markets across the country.

Bluetongue Disease: Vaccination

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when bluetongue vaccine will be available to farmers in Devon.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 9 June 2008
	In line with the UK bluetongue vaccination strategy, the bluetongue protection zone was extended into Devon on 23 May. This means that farmers in Devon are currently permitted to order the vaccine from their private veterinarians.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of cows receiving positive  (a) gamma interferon blood tests and  (b) skin tests for bovine tuberculosis were subsequently demonstrated to be clear of the disease at post mortem in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: It is a misconception that failure to find post-mortem evidence of bovine TB in animals that have previously had a positive reaction to a TB test means such animals are clear of the disease. It is frequently not possible to see typical signs of disease with the naked eye, or to culture the bacterium from tissue samples. Diagnostic tests are more effective at identifying infected cattle than post-mortem analyses. The primary purpose of post-mortem analyses is to support epidemiological investigations and the management of TB outbreaks, not to validate ante-mortem tests.
	An important point to note is that the TB testing programme aims to identify and confirm bovine TB on a herd rather than an individual animal basis. Meaningful confirmation rates for gamma interferon reactors, in particular, cannot be provided, as a significant proportion of gamma interferon positive animals are not subject to laboratory culture, as infection has already been identified in the herd.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost is of an individual  (a) gamma interferon blood test and  (b) skin test for bovine tuberculosis.

Jonathan R Shaw: It is not possible to provide a precise figure for the unit costs of the gamma interferon blood test or the skin test for bovine tuberculosis as these will vary significantly depending on a range of factors: for example, economies of scale are achieved when either test is used in larger groups of cattle.
	However, it is the case that the gamma interferon test is significantly more expensive than the skin test. For illustrative purposes, the costs of skin testing 60 cattle would be in the region of £250 whereas applying the gamma interferon test to the same number would cost around £1,280.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cows were slaughtered after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis in a gamma interferon blood test in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The number of cattle blood sampled, which have tested positive to the gamma interferon test in each of the last six years (for example, since its use was introduced in the field in Britain), can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of reactors to the gamma interferon test (Britain) 
			   Number 
			 2002 135 
			 2003 545 
			 2004 591 
			 2005 1,476 
			 2006 463 
			 2007 2,773 
		
	
	Gamma reactors identified between 2002 and 23 October 2006 were as a result of a pilot trial, which took place between 2002 and 2005, and ad-hoc use, which continued into 2006 (hence low rates identified in 2006). On 23 October 2006 a new policy of enhanced gamma usage was introduced across Britain. The test is used as a supplement to the skin test and is mandatory in certain scenarios where it can have the biggest impact in reducing disease.

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultants have been contracted by his Department to conduct public participation activities in the last three years; and how much expenditure his Department has incurred on each such contract to date.

Jonathan R Shaw: The core-Department's financial systems do not record a category of expenditure defined as public participation activities. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Department does set out in its annual departmental report details of the total expenditure on consultancy and professional services. This can be found on the DEFRA website.

Dogs: Animal Welfare

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward legislative proposals to  (a) include all breeds of dog within the provisions of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 so as to prohibit ownership by unfit persons in place of a general prohibition of ownership of particular breeds of dog and  (b) prohibit dog rental schemes under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 already applies to all breeds and types of dog. Section 3 of the Act makes it an offence for an owner or keeper of a dog of any type or breed to allow the dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place, or in a private place where it has no right to be. The courts also already have powers—both under dangerous dogs legislation and the Animal Welfare Act 2006—to disqualify an owner or keeper of a dog from having custody of a dog for any period.
	On dog rental schemes, we are not aware that there are a significant number of these schemes in operation. However, we will keep this matter under observation and should there be an upsurge in dog rental schemes we can consider using powers under the Animal Welfare Act to regulate or prohibit such activities.

Dogs: Genetics

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of proposals to use DNA profiling to identify the breeds of dogs being held in kennels under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, as amended; and if he will make a statement on the accuracy of current methods used to identify kennelled dogs.

Jonathan R Shaw: Officials have held discussions with the manufacturers of the DNA tests for dogs. The advice that we received are that the tests would be of limited value and unlikely to provide the evidence required by the court.
	On the current methods of identifying prohibited types of dog, DEFRA last year conducted a consultation with police forces in England and Wales on the effectiveness of the legislation. While it was clear from the consultation that Parliament was correct to prohibit pitbull type dogs, it was also evident that some forces did have difficulties in recognising prohibited types of dog. Therefore, to assist the police and local authorities we are giving priority to revising the guidance that DEFRA has issued on recognising prohibited types of dog. The guidance will also help explain the law on dangerous dogs.

Ducks: Animal Welfare

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2008,  Official Report, column 172W, on ducks: animal welfare, if he will place in the Library a copy of the research project A Study to Assess the Welfare of Ducks Housed in Systems Currently Used in the UK when it is published; and if he will take steps to give formal notice to hon. and right hon. Members of its publication and of his decision thereon.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 9 June 2008
	I will write to the right hon. Member enclosing a copy of the final report of this research project as soon as it is available.
	As is the practice with all DEFRA-funded research projects, the final report will also be published on the DEFRA website.

Environment Agency: Finance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the Environment Agency's charging increases for craft registrations on craft numbers over the three years of the proposed charging plan; and by how much registration income is expected to rise.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Environment Agency undertook an economic price elasticity study to support the development of its three-year charging plan for craft registrations. This study suggested that the likely effect of three successive 12 per cent. charge increases would be to reduce the number of craft registered on Environment Agency waterways by between 6 and 14 per cent. over the three years.
	It is estimated that, on this basis, these increases would raise registration income by between £1 million and £1.5 million (27 to 40 per cent.) against 2006-07 income.
	The Environment Agency reports that the first year of the charging plan was implemented for 2007-08, with registration charges being increased by 12 per cent. The registration income received by the Environment Agency increased by £460,000 (12.3 per cent.), whilst the number of registered craft fell by 0.2 per cent. on 2006-07 numbers.

Farms: Rents

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the rates of rents on levels of tenant farming.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA collects rent information through the Tenanted Land Survey which runs every two years in England. The latest information available is from October 2006 and the average rent per hectare for each tenancy type is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Average rent/hectare 
			   2004  2006  Percentage change 2006/04 
			 Full Agricultural Tenancies (FAT's) 110.93 113.98 +2.8 
			 Farm Business Tenancies (FBT's) 147.29 133.21 -9.6 
			 Seasonal agreements(1) 134.89 101.95 -24.4 
			 (1) For less than one year 
		
	
	The increase in FAT rents was mainly due to an increase of 15 per cent. in the rent paid on upland cattle and sheep holdings from £33.70 to £38.69.
	Rents for FBT's decreased in every sector, with the largest falls in the upland and lowland cattle and sheep holdings of 21 per cent. and 17 per cent. respectively.
	There are not enough data available to break down the seasonal agreements rent into farm types.
	Full details on rents by farm types can be found under the relevant Statistical Release on the DEFRA website. The next Tenanted Land Survey is due to run in October 2008 and results will be published in March 2009.

Food: Procurement

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to provide greater incentives to use local food sourcing in public procurement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The legal framework governing public procurement does not allow public bodies to provide greater incentives or give greater weight to locally produced food and drink when awarding contracts. This is because public bodies are required to ensure public procurement is fair, transparent and not used to discriminate by setting up barriers to free trade. It would also reduce competition contrary to UK public procurement policy that is designed to achieve value for money for the taxpayer.
	The legal and policy framework does provide public bodies with plenty of flexibility to be innovative in their procurement. This has allowed us through the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative to set a key objective to increase tendering opportunities for small and local producers. How they can do this, while remaining within the rules, is explained in our guide 'Putting it into practice' that was recently published on the PSFPI website at
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/pdf/psfpi-putting-into-practice.pdf

Livestock: Disease Control

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on research into  (a) bluetongue virus,  (b) avian influenza,  (c) foot and mouth disease and  (d) bovine tuberculosis in (i) 2003, (ii) 2004, (iii) 2005, (iv) 2006 and (v) 2007; and how much his Department has budgeted to spend on research into each in (A) 2008, (B) 2009 and (C) 2010.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The following table gives details of how much has been spent on research into bluetongue, avian influenza, foot and mouth disease and bovine TB since 2003.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Bluetongue  Avian influenza  Foot and mouth disease  Bovine TB( 1) 
			 2003-04 0.34 0.23 1.75 6.69 
			 2004-05 0.45 0.38 2.41 5.50 
			 2005-06 0.55 0.47 2.06 6.43 
			 2006-07 0.63 0.48 2.43 6.30 
			 2007-08 0.71 0.68 3.12 6.15 
			 2008-09(2) 0.73 0.71 2.89 6.00 
			 (1) In addition to the sums spent on research into bovine TB, since 2006, a further £2 million a year has been provided to support work on the development of TB diagnostic and vaccine products. (2) Estimated spend. 
		
	
	It is not possible at this time to give budgets for research in 2009-10 as the process of identifying and prioritising new research needs is currently under way.

Pesticides: Environment Protection

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the risks posed by the agricultural use of clothianidin and other neonicotinoid pesticides to  (a) the wider insect population and  (b) the beekeeping industry.

Jonathan R Shaw: A number of neonicotinoid pesticides are currently approved for use in the UK including: clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, acetamiprid and thiamethoxam.
	The risks posed by products containing neonicotinoid pesticides to insects and bees were assessed as part of the authorisation process to which all pesticides are subjected before they are approved for use by Ministers.
	Laboratory studies indicate that these compounds have high toxicity to honeybees and other insects such as ladybirds, lacewings and some ground dwelling beetles. However, studies conducted under field conditions, using products containing these compounds in accordance with their approved conditions of use provide data which support the conclusion that the level of risk is acceptable.
	Field studies included monitoring impacts on honeybees confined to tents and exposed to flowering crops of maize, oilseed rape and sunflowers grown from seed treated with pesticides in excess of the UK approved application rate. No significant differences on bee behaviour or mortality were reported in treated and untreated crops.

Pets: EU Action

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on ratifying the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Discussions have taken place with key stakeholders regarding the convention. It is clear that signing and ratifying the convention raises a number of complex issues including the concerns regarding the resolution on breed standards. These matters need to be carefully considered and at present officials responsible for implementing codes and secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act need to concentrate on those concerns raised by Parliament during the passage of the Act.

Pets: Sales

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to bring forward regulations on pet vending under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Jonathan R Shaw: While it is the intention of my Department to review the legislation on the selling of pet animals, I cannot offer a date when such a review will take place. The urgency to review the legislation was removed in 2006 when the High Court made a judgment on a Judicial Review about the issuing of a licence, under the Pet Animals Act 1951, to the organisers of a pet fair. One of the findings from the Judicial Review was that local authorities could not issue licences under the 1951 Act to organisers of pet fairs, where these events involved the sale of animals, as part of a business, to members of the public.

Rural Payments Agency: Standards

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) original target and  (b) actual reduction in (i) staffing numbers and (ii) associated expenditure was in the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The original target for staffing numbers for the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) was 1,946. This figure was based on the assumption that the new IT solution would deliver significant headcount efficiencies, which did not prove to be the case.
	The target did not include FTA, casual or agency staff as the intention was that the IT solution would enable RPA to phase out the use of these staff. However it proved necessary to retain agency staff and, as operational pressures increased, more were recruited.
	Since the target was set the merger with the British Cattle Movement Service, in September 2003, and amalgamation of the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate and Investigation Branch into RPA. In April 2006, added approximately 590 staff.
	RPA staffing numbers in each of the last five years are:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003-04 3,996 
			 2004-05 3,892 
			 2005-06 4,592 
			 2006-07 4,467 
			 2007-08 4,297 
		
	
	Expenditure on Staffing:
	
		
			  Financial year 2003-04 
			   Total staff costs (£000) 
			 Wages and salaries 70,491 
			 Social security costs 4,784 
			 Other pension costs 10,537 
			 Total 85,812 
			   
			 Agency staff 4,777 
			   
			 Total 90,589 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year 200 4-05 
			   Total staff costs (£000) 
			 Wages and salaries 70,260 
			 Social security costs 5,156 
			 Other pension costs 8,116 
			 Total  
			  83,532 
			 Agency staff 4,473 
			   
			 Total 88,005 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year 200 5-06 
			   Total staff costs (£000) 
			 Wages and salaries 70,836 
			 Social security costs 5,461 
			 Other pension costs 10,144 
			 Total 86,441 
			   
			 Agency staff 21,085 
			   
			 Total 107,526 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year 200 6-07 
			   Total staff costs (£000) 
			 Wages and salaries 71,612 
			 Social security costs 5,496 
			 Other pension costs 10,985 
			 Total 88,093 
			   
			 Agency staff 24,334 
			   
			 Total 112,427 
		
	
	For financial year 2007-08 the costs are not yet audited and therefore not available.

Seas and Oceans: Nature Conservation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence he has on the effectiveness of marine conservation areas in  (a) fishing waters with reefs and  (b) areas of mixed fisheries.

Jonathan R Shaw: Under the right conditions, marine conservation areas are valuable tools for the preservation and enhancement of certain critical habitats and of site-attached shellfish and finfish populations. In specific situations, closed areas may benefit mobile commercial species. However, all conservation areas should be assessed for their effectiveness on a case-by-case basis in relation to the objectives of the area.

Seas and Oceans: Nature Conservation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to publish maps showing the scale and location of marine conservation areas to be established under the Marine Bill.

Jonathan R Shaw: The process of identifying areas for designation as Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), as proposed in Part 4 of the draft Marine Bill, will be based, as far as possible, on consensus between stakeholders. With this in mind, Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee are establishing a series of regional stakeholder-led partnership projects. These projects will be advised on appropriate site selection principles, including relevant scientific and national policy considerations, by the statutory conservation agencies and a number of national steering groups. The regional projects will make choices and then submit recommendations to the Secretary of State, by Easter 2011.

Seas and Oceans: Nature Conservation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms will be used to protect marine conservation areas envisaged in his draft Marine Bill from fishing.

Jonathan R Shaw: Within six nautical miles of baseline, the draft Marine Bill proposes that Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities will be required to further the conservation objectives set for marine conservation zones (MCZs). This will be achieved through the use of mechanisms such as the introduction of byelaws. In areas of shared fisheries, beyond six nautical miles, we would seek to secure the protection of MCZs from damaging fishing activities through the common fisheries policy.

Seas and Oceans: Nature Conservation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals he has for the involvement of fishermen and their organisations in implementing marine conservation areas; and what discussions he has had with them on the matter in preparation of the draft Marine Bill.

Jonathan R Shaw: Fishermen are an integral part of in the 'Finding Sanctuary' project, which is currently developing proposals for a network of marine conservation areas in waters off the coast of south-west England. Fishermen are represented on the project steering group and are also participating in the mapping of fishing grounds and habitats in the region. 'Finding Sanctuary' is the model that Natural England are following in seeking to establish similar stakeholder-led projects for the Eastern channel, North sea and Irish sea.
	I regularly meet with the fishing industry to discuss a wide range of issues, including marine protected areas. Commercial and recreational fishermen have been involved in the development of the draft Marine Bill through public consultations in 2006 and 2007. Fishing industry representatives have been involved in gathering evidence for the impact assessment, which was published alongside the draft Marine Bill. Officials have also had various formal and informal discussions with officers of Sea Fisheries Committees and the Association of Sea Fisheries Committees.

Wildlife: Cyprus

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had at EU level on the compliance with EU law of hunting and trapping of wild birds in Cyprus and Malta.

Joan Ruddock: I have not had any recent discussions at EU level on this issue.
	Within the European Union, the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the "Birds Directive") affords protection to all wild birds. Responsibility for ensuring that member states comply with the Birds Directive is a matter for the European Commission. The UK Government support the role of the Commission in taking justified and proportionate action to ensure that the common rules for the protection of wild birds laid down in the Birds Directive are followed by member states.
	The Commission does take action against countries which fail to fully comply with the directive. In June 2007 the Commission sent a warning letter to Cypriot authorities, regarding a two-day exemption which permitted the hunting of turtle doves in spring, and warned that any future exemptions from the directive could lead to legal action being taken. The Cypriot authorities agreed not to renew this exemption. The Commission has also taken action to prevent spring hunting of certain birds in Malta, which it believes is contrary to the provisions of the Birds Directive. This action resulted in a ruling from the European Court of Justice preventing Malta from authorising the hunting of quails and turtle doves outside the period of hunting for these species permitted under the Birds Directive.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Commission for Local Administration in England

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of any regulatory limitations on the powers of the Office of the Local Government Ombudsman to fulfil its functions;
	(2)  whether she has considered the merits of developing the  (a) role and  (b) powers of the office of the Local Government Ombudsman.

Parmjit Dhanda: Our 2006 local government White Paper 'Strong and Prosperous communities', proposed a number of reforms to modernise the role of the Local Government Ombudsman, including extending their jurisdiction, which we have implemented from April 2008.

Commission for Local Administration in England

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the contribution made by the Local Government Ombudsman to  (a) good practice,  (b) increasing professional standards,  (c) probity,  (d) improving quality decision taking and  (e) striving for improvement in local government.

Parmjit Dhanda: Decisions and recommendations of the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) in response to allegations of maladministration in local authorities are made wholly independently of Government. However, to ensure their public accountability, the LGO publishes a comprehensive annual review, showing performance against business goals for the year. They also submit an annual detailed business statement to my Department, which we assess carefully before deciding the level of their annual grant, which is subject to the approval of the House. From these documents we are satisfied that the LGO continues to provide a valuable and efficient means of redress for citizens facing maladministration by local authorities.

Councillors: Convictions

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many councillors have been convicted of criminal offences in each London borough since April 2006.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department does not hold the information requested.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when each of her Department's and its agencies' green transport plans were introduced; and if she will place in the Library a copy of each such plan.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government and its agencies do not currently have green transport plans in place. However, guidance on sustainable travel practices, a sustainable travel hierarchy and associated reduction targets are contained within the Department's sustainable operations policy. A copy of this policy has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Fire Service College

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans her Department has for the future of the Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department will continue to support the Fire Service College to be the national training provider of choice for the Fire and Rescue Service, providing high quality training which meets FRS needs at affordable cost. The Department has invested over £14 million in the development of new training facilities and student accommodation at the Moreton-in-Marsh site since 2003 and is working with the college to ensure that it can deliver training and fulfil its obligations as a trading fund.

Fire Service College

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what reports her Department has commissioned from consultants into the running of the Fire Service College; and if she will publish them.

Parmjit Dhanda: In August 2005 the Department commissioned Ernst and Young to carry out a feasibility study into investment in the infrastructure and facilities of the Fire Service College. This study reported in February 2006. In November 2006 the Department commissioned Mouchel Parkman Services Ltd. to follow up the feasibility study by producing a business case on the options for securing investment in the Moreton-in- Marsh site and highlighting the most appropriate method of optimising the College's financial performance. This study reported in June 2007. College management was closely involved in both studies.
	Both reports contain commercially sensitive information and the Department has no plans to publish them.

Fire Service College

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's policy is on a merger of the Fire Service College and the Emergency Planning College.

Parmjit Dhanda: The roles of the Fire Service College and Emergency Planning College are complementary but different. The Fire Service College focuses on specialist training at the operational (Bronze), tactical (Silver) and strategic (Gold) levels with around 90 per cent. of its students coming from the Fire and Rescue Service. The Emergency Planning College brings together the emergency services and the many organisations involved in multi-agency working at the Gold level in large scale emergencies, including non-blue light scenarios such as influenza. Fire and Rescue Service students comprise less than 10 per cent. of the Emergency Planning College's intake.
	The Fire Service College and the Emergency Planning College co-operate where joint working has the potential to enhance the multi-agency approach and thereby strengthen national resilience.

Fire Service College

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations have been made to her Department by the Chief Fire Officers' Association on fire and rescue training at the Fire Service College.

Parmjit Dhanda: I meet regularly with the Chief Fire Officers' Association (CFOA) presidential team to receive representations and to discuss issues of concern, as do officials from the Department's Fire and Resilience Directorate.

Fire Service College: Finance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons her Department did not agree to the Fire Service College's request for a loan for a new residential block; and if she will publish the business case on which the request was based.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Fire Service College's business case for a new accommodation block providing 100 en-suite bedrooms was approved by the Department in October 2006. This costed the project at £4.2 million and a completion date of April 2008. The Department agreed to fund the project via a loan from its 2007-08 capital provision.
	In November 2007, by which time only preparatory works had been completed, the college asked the Department to increase the proposed loan to £5 million, the total cost of the project having increased by 25 per cent. to £5.5 million. Completion had also slipped to 2009, taking the bulk of project costs into 2008-09, for which the Department had not made financial provision. Proceeding with the project would consequently have impacted on other high priority fire and resilience projects and agreement to provide loan funding was withdrawn. The college has been reimbursed for the costs it incurred on the project prior to this decision.
	It is not the Department's practice to publish documents which have been produced to inform internal management decisions.

Fire Service College: Floods

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assistance the Fire Service College gave to the community in its area during the flooding in summer 2007.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Fire Service College and its staff played a significant role in coming to the aid of hundreds of people affected by the floods on 20 and 21 July in the north Cotswolds. At the request of Gloucestershire FRS, three of the college's fire appliances supported the rescue efforts of the emergency services. They were crewed by 20 staff and secondees and rescued about 100 people from their homes and stranded vehicles in the area around Moreton. Firefighters working at the college helped with several rescues from the local town using vehicles, a boat and a tractor.
	The college provided overnight shelter for over 320 members of the public, many of them elderly and infirm, who had been left homeless or were unable to complete their journeys. They were accommodated in the college's residential blocks over the course of the weekend, and provided with dry clothes, beds, hot food and drinks.

Fire Service College: Manpower

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) income,  (b) expenditure and  (c) staff numbers of the Fire Service College were in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Parmjit Dhanda: Details of Fire Service College income and expenditure for the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 together with staff numbers for those periods are set out in the following table. Figures for 2007-08 remain subject to final agreement by the National Audit Office.
	
		
			   (i) 2006/07  (ii) 2007/08 
			  (a) Income (£000) 22,565 22,441 
			  (b) Expenditure (£000)(1) 23,321 23,203 
			  (c) Staff numbers (FTE average) 273 256 
			 (1) Planned deficits of £700,000 in each of the two years to support implementation of the UKFRS Learning and Development Strategy were approved by Ministers. The Department waived dividend payments from the college to CLG in both years.

Fire Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many incidents attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in each fire authority area in each year since 1994 required standby or precautionary measures to be implemented because of a potentially hazardous situation.

Parmjit Dhanda: Information on the number of non-fire incidents attended, by each Fire and Rescue Service, that required standby or precautionary measures is available for the period 1995 to 2007 and has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Fire Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many special service incidents, including those not specified, were attended by the fire service in each year since 1994.

Parmjit Dhanda: Information on the total number of special service incidents attended, by each Fire and Rescue Service, is available for the period 1995 to 2007. This information has been placed in the Library of the House.

Flood Control: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received on the Environment Agency's requirements for flood risk assessments prior to development on Canvey Island; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Communities and local Government invited representations earlier this year from local delivery partners on barriers to regeneration in the Thames Gateway. In April the Department received a representation from Essex county council which included concerns about the Environment Agency's requirements for flood risk assessments prior to development on Canvey Island.
	Following this, discussions have recently taken place between the Department and other interested parties, including the authorities in Essex, to explore ways in which the requirement for flood risk assessments could be better tailored to Canvey Island's circumstances, including the need for regeneration.

Local Government: Accountability

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she has given on the operation of question-times or regular meetings at which local government Cabinet or Executive members give an account of their stewardship.

Parmjit Dhanda: The guidance, 'New Councils Constitution: guidance to English Local Authorities', which we issued following the Local Government Act 2000, highlights the importance of councils encouraging public participation in their meetings for example through taking questions or comments on the leader's report and offering opportunities for public interactive sessions.

Planning Permission

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of planning decisions by  (a) Wolverhampton City Council,  (b) Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,  (c) Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council,  (d) Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council,  (e) Birmingham City Council and  (f) local authorities in England were (i) appealed to and (ii) successful following appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in (A) 2003, (B) 2004, (C) 2005, (D) 2006 and (E) 2007.

Iain Wright: The Planning Inspectorate does not record the proportion of planning decisions that come to the Inspectorate on appeal. However, the Inspectorate calculates that between 3 and 4 per cent. of council decisions result in an appeal.
	Over the past five years approximately 3 to 4 per cent. of LPA decisions have come to use on appeal (see following).
	
		
			Appeals received 
			   LPA decisions  Number  Percentage 
			 2003-04 624,000 22,551 3.61 
			 2004-05 645,000 23,075 3.58 
			 2005-06 598,000 22,121 3.70 
			 2006-07 587,000 22,710 3.87 
			 2007-08(1) 464,000 17,055 3.68 
			 (1) Only first three quarters of 2007-08 data are available. 
		
	
	The following table represents the number of planning appeals (i) received, decided and (ii) allowed (with percentage) during the period requested:
	
		
			   (i) Received  Decided  (ii) Allowed  Percentage allowed 
			  (a) Wolverhampton 
			 2003 60 58 24 41 
			 2004 80 60 20 33 
			 2005 67 74 30 41 
			 2006 73 62 24 39 
			 2007 69 62 20 32 
			  
			  (b) Sandwell 
			 2003 37 34 13 38 
			 2004 53 24 13 54 
			 2005 23 41 18 44 
			 2006 42 35 19 54 
			 2007 38 32 16 50 
			  
			  (c) Walsall 
			 2003 47 32 19 59 
			 2004 73 46 19 41 
			 2005 78 76 27 36 
			 2006 68 58 17 29 
			 2007 72 60 24 40 
			  
			  (d) Dudley 
			 2003 67 64 20 31 
			 2004 76 50 18 36 
			 2005 90 80 37 46 
			 2006 85 88 46 52 
			 2007 64 62 34 55 
			  
			  (e) Birmingham 
			 2003 154 157 55 35 
			 2004 206 126 39 31 
			 2005 171 182 47 26 
			 2006 161 152 51 34 
			 2007 183 154 48 31 
			  
			  (f) All local planning authorities 
			 2003 20,594 18,067 6,051 33 
			 2004 25,139 16,509 5,584 34 
			 2005 20,768 22,367 7,434 33 
			 2006 23,058 19,863 6,754 34 
			 2007 22,827 20,536 7,336 36

Regional Planning and Development

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how the Government plans to reduce the gap in growth rates between the regions.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to improving the economic performance of all English regions and reducing the gap in economic growth rates between English regions. The 2007 comprehensive spending review confirmed this commitment in the regional economic performance public service agreement (PSA). The delivery plan for the public service agreement, published in October 2007 and available on the HM Treasury website, sets out how contributing Departments and partner organisations will achieve the target.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of regional ambulance emergency operation centres.

Ben Bradshaw: Arrangements for where ambulance service control rooms are situated are a matter for the current local national health service.
	The Department has made no assessment of the effectiveness of the current regional ambulance emergency operation centres. However, in order to help inform trusts' decisions on control rooms, the Department commissioned a report on operating models for NHS ambulance trust control rooms in England to help assess the likely requirements of control rooms and supporting technology requirements, given that trusts would need to respond to higher levels of activity following reconfiguration of services which commenced in July 2006. Copies of this publication have been placed in the Library.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 148 of his Department's annual report 2008, if he will provide a breakdown of strategic health authority (SHA) running costs by SHA; and what percentage of these costs would be classed as  (a) administration and  (b) frontline service delivery.

Ben Bradshaw: The running costs of each strategic health authority (SHA) in 2008-09 are shown in the following table, the allocations do not make a distinction between administration and frontline service delivery.
	
		
			  SHA running costs 2008-09 (including estates advisers) 
			  SHA  Total  (£000) 
			 North East 9,756.5 
			 North West 10,672.6 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 9,756.5 
			 East Midlands 9,987.5 
			 West Midlands 10,105.1 
			 East of England 10,109.3 
			 London 13,981.1 
			 South East Coast 10,001.4 
			 South Central 9,988.6 
			 South West 10,081.7 
			   
			 Total 104,440.3

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to page 148 of his Department's annual report 2008, for what reasons EEA medical costs are expected to rise by £100 million from 2007-08 to 2008-09;
	(2)  what the reasons are for the difference between the £709 million listed for EEA medical costs in Figure 9.19 and the £0.8 billion in Figure 9.5.

Ben Bradshaw: The European economic area (EEA) medical costs budget forecasts in figure 9.19 of £673 million for 2007-08 and £709 million for 2008-09 were made early in the calendar year 2008.
	The EEA medical costs budget is a demand led budget and the key drivers include:
	the number of United Kingdom citizens who are retired, working or travelling in other EEA countries;
	the growth of health expenditure in other member states; and
	the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
	Most of the EEA medical cost claims are paid in the euro currency. The recent strength of the euro has led to an upward revaluation of budget forecasts. The final outturn for EEA medical costs for 2007-08 will be published in the 'Public Expenditure Outturn' White Paper in July 2008.
	Figure 9.5 anticipates the impact of the change in exchange rate in 2008-09, so shows a higher rounded estimate forecast of £0.8 billion.

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what proportion of its staff his Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: Around 3 per cent. of staff have received vocational training through corporate channels over the last three years. However, records of other vocational training—provided at a local level within the Department—are not held centrally and would incur disproportionate cost to survey.

Diamorphine

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25th February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1198-99W, on diamorphine, who the suppliers of diamorphine to the NHS are; how many ampoules of each strength were supplied by each company in the first quarter of each year from 2002 to 2006; and what these were in each case as a percentage of historic demand.

Ben Bradshaw: There are currently three suppliers of diamorphine injection to the UK market:
	Auralis Ltd.;
	Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.; and
	Wockhardt UK Ltd.
	The information to provide the breakdown in sales by supplier is not collected centrally.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1072W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what Fairtrade products are  (a) available for purchase at his Department's staff catering facilities and  (b) regularly offered at official departmental meetings and engagements.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has the following items available for purchase through staff catering facilities: Geobars, cereal bars and bananas.
	Only bananas are offered at official meetings and engagements.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1072W, on the Fairtrade initiative, how much and what proportion of revenue from his Department's staff catering facilities was from sales of Fairtrade products in each of the last three financial years.

Ben Bradshaw: No figures are available for previous years. Figures are currently being collected for the current financial year.

Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to finalise the Healthy Food Code of Practice outlined in his Department's Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives Strategy.

Dawn Primarolo: We are working with the Food Standards Agency on development of proposed outcomes and goals necessary to implement the Healthy Food Code of Good Practice and will be liaising with stakeholders to agree and finalise these during 2008.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions there will be under GP contracts when opening hours are extended to ensure practices are available and appropriately staffed during core hours.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 9 June 2008
	General practitioner (GP) practices are extending their opening hours by entering into enhanced service agreements with their primary care trusts (PCTs) as part of their contractual arrangements. An overriding principle in entering into such agreements is that practices should maintain standards of access and availability during contracted core hours. GP practices remain contractually required to provide essential, and where appropriate, additional primary medical services that are appropriate to meet the reasonable needs of their patients within core hours. Where they do not meet those requirements, they may be judged by their PCT to be in breach of their contract.

Hospital Beds: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds  (a) in total and  (b) per head of population were available at Milton Keynes hospital in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 June 2008
	The information requested is shown for Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust in the following table. Data have been provided for beds per 1,000 population.
	
		
			  Bed availability at Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust, 1996-97 to 2006-07 
			   Number of available beds in wards open overnight and day only  Number of available beds in wards open overnight and day only per 1,000 pop 
			 1996-97 391 1.99 
			 1997-98 399 2.00 
			 1998-99 398 1.96 
			 1999-2000 403 1.95 
			 2000-01 400 1.91 
			 2001-02 396 1.86 
			 2002-03 423 1.97 
			 2003-04 442 2.04 
			 2004-05 452 2.07 
			 2005-06 475 2.15 
			 2006-07 470 2.09 
			  Note: Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust became a foundation trust on 1 October 2007, but this is not reflected in the table as the latest published data are for 2006-07.  Source: Bed availability data: Department of Health data set KH03; Population data: Office for National Statistics mid-year estimates for Milton Keynes Unitary Authority.

Hospitals: Transport

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publicise the extension of the hospital travel costs scheme to all who are eligible for the scheme; and if he will establish a mechanism to monitor the uptake of the scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The Hospital Travel Costs Scheme was extended on 1 April 2008 to allow eligibility to the scheme to encompass referrals made by doctors and dentists, in addition to the existing referrals through a consultant. To reflect these changes the scheme was renamed the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.
	A number of marketing and communications activities aimed at raising awareness both within the national health service and with those who would be eligible to access it have been undertaken as part of the relaunch of the scheme. We have developed and made available patient information leaflets and posters for display in NHS hospitals and treatment centres. We have also developed patient information cards which will be provided to general practitioner (GP) and dental surgeries for distribution to patients. We have written to the NHS, GPs and dentists informing them of the changes to the scheme and the requirements placed on them within regulations to manage its delivery. Instructions and guidance has been made available on the Department's website to assist them in this function, This information is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_083704
	In addition, voluntary sector organisations have also been consulted on, and informed of, scheme revisions to ensure that information is available to those who need it.
	We are currently developing a performance management regime that will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of these actions on the uptake of the scheme, while ensuring that the minimal administrative burden is placed on the NHS.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the median waiting time was for  (a) an outpatient first appointment and  (b) an inpatient appointment in (i) Cornwall, (ii) each parliamentary constituency in Cornwall, (iii) the south-west region and (iv) England in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is shown in the following table. Figures are collected at primary care trust (PCT) level and therefore no information is available for constituencies in Cornwall.
	
		
			  Median in - patient and out - patient waiting times Cornwall, south-west and England, April 2008 
			  Weeks 
			   Cornwall and  Isles  of Scilly PCT  South West Strategic Health Authority  England 
			 Out-patient 2.0 2.2 2.2 
			 In-patient 4.2 4.2 4.0 
			  Notes: 1. The figures show the median waiting times for patients still waiting at the end of the period. 2. Outpatient waiting times are measured from a general practitioner referral to a first outpatient appointment by the consultant. 3. Inpatient waiting times are measured from decision to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital. 4. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits.  Source: Monthly monitoring return - commissioner based

Monitor: Healthcare Commission

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the policy objectives are of retaining Monitor and the Healthcare Commission as separate entities; and if he will set out the objectives of each organisation;
	(2)  if he will merge Monitor and the Healthcare Commission.

Ben Bradshaw: Subject to parliamentary approval, the Health and Social Care Bill will establish the Care Quality Commission. From April 2009, the new Commission will take over from the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission.
	The two regulatory bodies will have different and very specific roles.
	The Care Quality Commission will be responsible for regulating services across the health and adult social care sectors. The new Commission will have a number functions including assuring safety and quality across all types of provider of health and adult social care. It will have enforcement powers it can use when a provider is not complying with essential safety and quality requirements.
	There are no plans to change the role of Monitor (the statutory name of which is the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts). Monitor will continue its specific role of authorising and regulating national health service foundation trusts to ensure that they meet the requirements for governance, financial stability and delivery of mandatory services set out in their terms of authorisation.

NHS European Office

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was provided by each strategic health authority to fund the NHS European Office in Brussels in 2007-08.

Dawn Primarolo: The NHS European Office is part of the NHS Confederation and is funded by the strategic health authorities. It was established in September 2007 to inform NHS organisations of key European Union developments and to help the national health service to respond to EU policy and legislative developments on a strategic level. Specific information on funding allocated to the NHS European Office is not held centrally.
	Further information about the NHS European Office and its activities and funding is available at its website at:
	www.nhsconfed.org/europe

NHS: DHL

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1668W, on the NHS: DHL, what percentage of the £1 billion expected savings has been achieved to date.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 June 2008
	To the end of March 2008, the percentage of the expected savings achieved was ahead of target at 1.3 per cent.
	The savings escalate over the 10-year term as they are driven by increasing turnover and contract renewals. The savings are expected to be significantly lower in the first five years compared to the second five years of the term.

NHS: ICT

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much his Department plans to spend on Connecting for Health in each of the next 10 financial years;
	(2)  how much of the £0.9 billion Connecting for Health revenue budget in 2007-08 was spent.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 7 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 123-24W.
	Outturn revenue expenditure for 2007-08, subject to audit, was £0.503 billion.

NHS: ICT

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of the financial penalties incurred for the early termination of the NHS IT contract with Fujitsu.

Ben Bradshaw: The direct financial consequences for both parties resulting from the Department's decision to issue a notice to terminate the contract with Fujitsu Services Limited as local service provider under the National Programme for Information Technology, will be established in the period ahead. The Department and Fujitsu are committed to seeking a resolution of outstanding matters by agreement if possible, and this process has begun.

Osteoporosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will  (a) include treatment for osteoporosis in the GP quality outcare framework and  (b) increase the level of funding for such treatment.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 5 May 2008 that the Government are consulting the British Medical Association (BMA) on proposals to invest an extra £100 million on improving clinical services and access for patients. The Government propose to invest an extra £50 million in enhanced clinical services, which would include improving the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis according to the best practice guidelines set out by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. The amount of investment in each area is subject to consultation with the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA.
	We expect the content of the Quality and Outcomes Framework for 2009-10 to be, as usual, a matter for consultation between NHS Employers and the BMA, informed by the independent expert panel.

Salt: Health Education

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the Sid the Slug campaign; and what  (a) mechanisms,  (b) baselines and  (c) targets have been established to measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

Dawn Primarolo: The total cost of the Sid the Slug campaign was £4,204,000.
	To measure effectiveness of the campaign, specific pre and post campaign tracking research was established using RSGB face-to-face adult omnibus survey which interviews a nationally representative sample of adults 16-years-old and over in the United Kingdom. The pre- campaign research set a baseline on awareness and claimed behaviour. Targets based on these baselines were set. These were:
	increase awareness among our target audience that too much salt in the diet is bad for your heart from 32 per cent. to 42 per cent. (result 46 per cent.); and
	increase in claim to be trying to cut down their salt intake among our target audience from 40 per cent. to 50 per cent. (result 49 per cent.).

WORK AND PENSIONS

Blackpool

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of staff employed at the Mexford House, Blackpool site, and eligible for redeployment within his Department, utilised the exit scheme in each of the last three years.

Anne McGuire: In the last three years the percentage of staff employed at Mexford House eligible for redeployment who utilised the Department's exit scheme is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2007-08 35

Blackpool

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many overtime hours were worked at the disability and carers service based at Warbreck Hill in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the format requested as records are not retained of the number of overtime hours worked. Such information as is available is in the following table.
	Total expenditure on overtime at the disability and carers service's operation at Warbreck Hill site over the last five years and as a percentage of the total paybill.
	
		
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Overtime expenditure (£ million) 1.90 1.59 2.20 2.86 1.79 
			 Overtime expenditure as percentage of total paybill 4 4 4 5 3

Child Support Agency: Compensation

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many compensation payments have been made by the Child Support Agency for maladministration since 1 January 1998; and how many of those exceeded  (a) £1,000,  (b) £10,000,  (c) £50,000 and  (d) £90,000;
	(2)  how many clients of the Child Support Agency have received compensation payments totalling more than  (a) £1,000,  (b) £10,000,  (c) £50,000 and  (d) £90,000 for maladministration by the Agency since 1 January 1998.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 11 June 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	; and
	How many clients of the Child Support Agency have received compensation payments totalling more than (a) £1,000 (b) £10,000 (c) £50,000 and (d) £90,000 for maladministration by the Agency since 1st January 1998.
	The Child Support Agency operates a discretionary, non-statutory scheme providing financial redress for maladministration. Awards may be made to redress any financial losses incurred and can include consolatory payments made by way of an apology for delay, inconvenience, worry and distress caused. The majority of these consolatory payments are for less than £100.
	Such information as is available is set out in the attached table. The Agency holds information on the number of consolatory payments made only, and not the number of clients who receive such payments. Information on the number of consolatory payments made is not available prior to December 2001.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			  Child Support Agency—consolatory payments 
			   Payments made  Amount awarded (£) 
			 December 2001 to March 2008 61,000 — 
			  O f which: 4,500 1,000 to 9,999 
			  100 10,000 to 49,999 
			  0 50,000 to 89,999 
			  0 90,000 + 
			  Notes: 1. The total number of payments made is rounded to nearest 1,000. The number of payments made by value of payment is rounded to nearest 100. 2. These figures relate to consolatory payments only, these payments include awards made following admission of maladministration and are in recognition of either severe distress, gross embarrassment or gross inconvenience, and are the closest category of payment relating to compensation. 3. The Child Support Agency operates a discretionary, non-statutory scheme providing financial redress for maladministration. Awards may be made to redress any financial losses incurred and can include consolatory payments made by way of an apology for delay, inconvenience, worry and distress caused. 4. Information on the total amount paid out under the non-statutory scheme is published annually in the Child Support Agency annual report and accounts and is therefore subject to external audit. The analysis carried out in the table is based on internal Agency records and due to recording and timing differences may differ from figures previously published in the annual accounts.

Child Support Agency: Payments

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 177W, on Child Support Agency: payments, if he will provide a breakdown of the figures for number and value of payments in respect of payments for  (a) gross inconvenience,  (b) embarrassment and  (c) severe distress.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 11 June 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26th March 2008, Official Report, column 177W, on Child Support Agency: payments if he will provide a breakdown of the figures for number and value of payments in respect of payments for (a) gross inconvenience (b) embarrassment and (c) severe distress.
	Information on the number and value of consolatory payments in respect of (a) gross inconvenience (b) embarrassment and (c) severe distress from 2002/03 to 2006/07 is set out in the attached tables. Information on the breakdown of consolatory payment categories prior to 2002/03 is not available.
	The Child Support Agency operates a discretionary, non-statutory scheme providing financial redress for maladministration. Awards may be made to redress any financial losses incurred and can include consolatory payments made by way of an apology for delay, inconvenience, worry and distress caused.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			  Child Support Agency—consolatory payments 
			   Gross inconvenience  Gross embarrassment  Severe distress  Total 
			   Value (£)  Number  Value (£)  Number  Value (£)  Number  Value (£)  Number 
			 2002/03 624,000 8,100 8,000 100 29,000 200 661,000 8,400 
			 2003/04 392,000 5,400 4,000 100 11,000 100 407,000 5,600 
			 2004/05 567,000 8,800 6,000 100 10,000 100 583,000 9,000 
			 2005/06 596,000 9,000 6,000 100 5,000 100 607,000 9,200 
			 2006/07 652,000 9,000 5,000 100 8,000 100 666,000 9,200 
			  Notes: 1. The total number of payments made is rounded to nearest 100. The value of payment is rounded to nearest £1,000. 2. These figures relate to consolatory payments only, these payments include awards made following admission of maladministration and are in recognition of either severe distress, gross embarrassment or gross inconvenience, and are the closest category of payment relating to compensation. 3. The Child Support Agency operates a discretionary, non-statutory scheme providing financial redress for maladministration. Awards may be made to redress any financial losses incurred and can include consolatory payments made by way of an apology for delay, inconvenience, worry and distress caused. 4. Information on the total amount paid out under the non-statutory scheme is published annually in the Child Support Agency Annual report and Accounts and is therefore subject to external audit. The analysis carried out in the table is based on internal Agency records and due to recording and timing differences may differ from figures previously published in the Annual Accounts. 5. Information on the type of consolatory payment made is not available prior to December 2001. The first full year available is therefore 2002/03.

Departmental Domestic Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions he visited  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales and  (c) Northern Ireland in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The number of visits that were made to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Secretary of State in his official capacity since taking up post on the 24 January 2008 is in the following table.
	
		
			  James Purnell 
			  Visits to  Number 
			 Scotland 1 
			 Wales 0 
			 Northern Ireland 0

Departmental Opinion Polls

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been of opinion polling conducted for his Department  (a) in each year since 1997 and  (b) in 2008; if he will place copies of all poll questions in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: My Department has not conducted any opinion polls.
	My Department has, however, conducted an annual omnibus survey on public attitudes to the Government's welfare reform programme. This research was limited between 2001 and 2004. In 2005 and 2008, to make the findings more robust, an increased number of new attitude statements were tested amongst the public prior to being included in omnibus research. In 2005 we also conducted a piece of research to monitor public awareness of the Department and its responsibilities.
	To date in 2008, my Department has conducted two omnibus surveys designed to raise awareness of the change to state retirement age for women and to encourage planning and saving for retirement.
	Details are provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Cost (£) 
			 2001—Public Attitudes—Wave 1 9,350 
			 2002—Public Attitudes—Wave 2 9,600 
			 2003—Public Attitudes—Wave 3 10,450 
			 2004—Public Attitudes—Wave 4 11,100 
			 2005—Public Attitudes—Wave 5 and New 1 Public Awareness 86,000 
			 2006—Public Attitudes 50,000 
			 2007—Public Attitudes 32,030 
			 2008—Public Attitudes 40,850 
			 2008 Attitudes to pension saving 1,550 
			 2008 Attitudes to retirement 4,480 
			 Total costs 255,410

Departmental Opinion Polls

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what issues his Department has conducted opinion polling since 2005; and what the cost has been in each case.

Anne McGuire: My Department has not conducted any opinion polls since 2005.
	My Department has conducted annual omnibus surveys to monitor public attitudes to the Government's welfare reform programme between 2005-08. In addition, a further piece of research was conducted in 2005 to monitor public awareness of the Department and its responsibilities.
	To date in 2008, my Department has conducted two omnibus surveys designed to raise awareness of the change to state retirement age for women and to encourage planning and saving for retirement.
	Details are provided in the following table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005—Public Attitudes 43,000 
			 2005—Public Awareness 43,000 
			 2006—Public Attitudes 50,000 
			 2007—Public Attitudes 32,030 
			 2008—Public Attitudes 40,850 
			 2008—Attitudes to pension saving 1,550 
			 2008—Attitudes to retirement 4,480

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department and its executive agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: This information is set out in the remuneration report, which forms part of the Department for Work and Pensions' resource accounts. In addition this information is also available within Department's agencies' annual reports and accounts.

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultants have been contracted by his Department to conduct public participation activities in the last three years; and how much expenditure his Department has incurred on each such contract.

Anne McGuire: The consultant contracts that address public participation activities also cover a range of other services and so to provide the specific detail you are requesting would result in disproportionate cost.

Departmental Standards

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what baseline figure is being used to measure performance against each of his Department's 2004 Public Service Agreement targets.

Anne McGuire: The baselines for all the Department's 2004 targets are contained in the Technical Note published as part of the Public Service Agreement and have been reproduced in all performance reports covering the period, most recently in the 2007 DWP Autumn Performance Report, which is available in the Library and on the Department's website.

Departmental Visits Abroad

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what overseas visits he has undertaken since taking up his post.

Anne McGuire: Since taking up post on the 24 January 2008, the Secretary of State has visited New York and Paris in his official capacity.
	All official travel in my Department is undertaken strictly in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code. All ministerial travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Employment and Support Allowance: Training

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training activity claimants of the Employment and Support allowance may undertake that is  (a) work related and  (b) not work related.

Stephen Timms: The arrangements will be exactly the same as currently under incapacity benefits. Claimants on employment and support allowance will be permitted to undertake any unpaid training arrangement made under section 2(1) of the Employment and Training Act 1973 or section 2(3) of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 which will help them return to work. In addition, they are able to participate in training courses for 16 hours or more a week, where the primary purpose is the teaching of occupational or vocational skills.

Employment Schemes: Expenditure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much was spent on the New Deal for Young People in each year since 1997, broken down by Jobcentre Plus district;
	(2)  how much was spent on the New Deal for 25 plus in each Jobcentre Plus District in each year since 1997, broken down by Jobcentre Plus District;
	(3)  how much was spent on all Government employment programmes in each Jobcentre Plus District in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of existing claimants of housing benefit who have had their benefits reduced as a result of changes by the Rent Service to the localities used to calculate reference rents.

James Plaskitt: Housing benefit customers living in the deregulated private rented sector may be affected by the review of localities when their annual referral to the rent officer is made. This process occurs gradually over the course of a year, depending on when the customer made their original claim for housing benefit. Only those customers who have been in receipt of housing benefit for a continuous period of 52 weeks or more, and who made a claim prior to the introduction of the new locality, will be affected.
	The Department for Work and Pensions has estimated that as a result of the localities review, out of a total of 800,000 living in the private rented sector in England, approximately 85,000 customers may see an increase in their entitlement while approximately 30,000 customers may experience a reduction in their benefit entitlement.
	Similar analysis by the Scottish Government shows that approximately 2,000 housing benefit customers out of a total of 60,000 living in the private rent sector in Scotland may experience a reduction in benefit entitlement, while approximately 5,000 may see a gain in their entitlement. The vast majority of customers will see their housing benefit entitlement remain unchanged as a result of the review.
	There is no similar analysis for Wales as the review there has been implemented more gradually over a longer time horizon.

Housing Benefit

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of  (a) housing benefit and  (b) local housing allowance there are in (i) Ribble Valley constituency, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) England.

James Plaskitt: The local housing allowance was rolled out nationally from 7 April 2008 and it is too early to provide case load information.
	Housing benefit information is not available at constituency level. The most recent information available is in the following table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit recipients as at May 2007 
			   Number 
			 England 3,401,590 
			 Lancashire 92,240 
			 Ribble Valley Borough Council 1,490 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 3. Housing benefit excludes any extended payment cases. 4. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 5. Lancashire includes the following local authorities: Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Burnley; Chorley; Fylde; Hyndburn; Lancaster; Pendle; Preston; Ribble Valley; Rossendale; South Ribble; West Lancashire; and Wyre.  Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. case load stock-count taken in May 2007.

Jobcentres

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobcentres he has visited since taking up his post.

Anne McGuire: Since taking up post on the 24 January 2008, the Secretary of State has visited three jobcentres.

Pathways to Work

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many additional Pathways to Work placements he intends to provide in each year between 2010 and 2013.

Stephen Timms: From October 2008 all new employment and support allowance claimants in the Work Related Activity Group will go through Pathways to Work, and existing customers will have access on a voluntary basis. We do not expect the application of the work capability assessment from 2010 to 2013 to existing incapacity benefits recipients to make a significant difference to the numbers coming forward voluntarily for help.

Social Security Benefits: Care Homes

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of means-tested benefits for residents of  (a) residential and  (b) nursing homes in 2008-09.

Mike O'Brien: The information as requested is not available. We estimate that in 2006-07 around £370 million of income-related benefits were paid to people in residential care and nursing homes.
	 Notes:
	1. Forecast expenditure data do not separately identify people in residential and nursing homes, so the most recent available full year data are 2006-07.
	2. The system flag used to record if someone is in a care home does not distinguish between residential or nursing homes.
	 Source:
	DWP accounting and statistical data.

Social Security Benefits: Compensation

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the largest single consolatory payment to an individual by  (a) his Department,  (b) the Child Support Agency,  (c) Jobcentre or Jobcentre Plus,  (d) the Disability and Carers Service,  (e) the Pension Service,  (f) the Rent Service and  (g) the Debt Management Service was in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The Department is focused on providing high standards of customer service and seeks to provide rapid and satisfactory resolution of any customer complaints. In the event that departmental error or delay may have an adverse effect on a customer, the Department operates a discretionary scheme providing financial redress.
	The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table.
	
		
			  Largest single consolatory payment to an individual 
			   £ 
			  CSA  
			 2007-08 2,000 
			 2006-07 1,000 
			 2005-06 1,500 
			 2004-05 1,000 
			 2003-04 500 
			 2002-03 1,550 
			   
			  JCP  
			 2007-08 1,050 
			 2006-07 800 
			 2005-06 3,000 
			 2004-05 2,000 
			 2003-04 2,000 
			   
			  DCS  
			 2007-08 2,000 
			 2006-07 500 
			   
			  TPS  
			 2007-08 1,250 
			 2006-07 500 
			 2005-06 500 
			 2004-05 600 
			 2003-04 500 
			  Notes: 1. DWP's customers interact with the Department through its agencies/businesses and any consolatory payments are made at the agency/business level, rather than centrally. 2. DCS only retain readily available information for the previous two years on their special payments database. Information prior to this period is deleted on an ongoing basis. The SPEC forms (the individual special payment decision and authorisation forms) for individual cases are retained for a longer period but are kept at a remote storage centre. To retrieve these and then attempt to provide the information required to answer the PQ could be done only at disproportionate cost. 3. DCS do retain overall category statistics for each month but not the individual case breakdown that is being asked for. 4. The Pension Service figures are only available from 1 November 2003 when the new system was installed. We do not have access to any earlier information. 5. Debt Management is not an executive agency of DWP. A consolatory payment awarded because of error by Debt Management is paid by Jobcentre Plus. 6. The Rent Service (TRS) was formed in October 1999 as an executive agency of the Department of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. TRS became an executive agency of the Department for Work and Pensions in June 2001. The Rent Service has not made any consolatory payments in the period concerned.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are in place to ensure that all his Department's offices are informed of recorded disability needs of their customers; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Wherever possible we try to ensure that the needs of disabled customers are met. For example, in Jobcentre Plus if a customer states that they have a disability or health problem, with their permission, this information is recorded on a computer system. An enhancement to IT systems that support disability living allowance and attendance allowance benefit claims from customers allows Pension, Disability and Carer's Service staff to record a customer's preferred method of communication. Our current IT systems do not allow recorded information on a customer's disability needs to be shared across the different parts of the Department.
	The Department for Work and Pension's Three Year Plan sets out the intention during 2008-11 to identify further opportunities to develop new processes to meet the accessibility needs of our customers so that they are able to receive the services appropriate to their needs. This will also ensure that our businesses across the Department are able to collect, share and act upon information about a customer's additional requirements.

Social Security Benefits: Expenditure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of expenditure on  (a) housing benefit,  (b) council tax benefit,  (c) jobseekers allowance,  (d) incapacity benefit and  (e) income support in (i) real and (ii) nominal terms in each year since 1997 .

James Plaskitt: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Unemployment: Young People

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 2205-06W, to the hon. Member for Hertsmere, (Mr. Clappison) from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on unemployment: young people, what assessment he has made of the reasons for  (a) the fall in the employment rate of UK nationals and  (b) the fall in the level of unemployment of UK nationals; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 12 May 2008
	 The employment rate of UK nationals in the first quarter of 2008 was 75.1 per cent., a 0.4 percentage point rise on the same period in 2007 and 2.3 percentage points higher than in the first quarter of 1997.
	The ILO unemployment rate for UK nationals fell by 0.3 percentage points, to 5.0 per cent., in the year to the first quarter of 2008, and is down from 7.2 per cent. in the same quarter of 1997.
	The improvement in the labour market position of UK nationals reflects a combination of stable economic growth, a flexible and dynamic labour market in which new job opportunities are coming up all the time, and active labour market policies which have helped jobless individuals, particularly the most disadvantaged, to move back into the labour market and from there into work.
	The position of young people is affected by the interaction between the labour market and the education system, with more people now staying on in education than 10 years ago. For UK nationals aged under 25 who have left full-time education, the employment rate was 74.3 per cent. in the first quarter of 2008, up 0.6 percentage points over the last year but 0.2 percentage points lower than in the same quarter of 1997. The ILO unemployment rate for UK nationals aged under 25 who have left full-time education, in the first quarter of 2008 was 12.9 per cent., down from 13.6 per cent. in the first quarter of 2007 and 14.3 per cent. in the first quarter of 1997.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bombs

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to hold discussions with his  (a) US,  (b) Russian,  (c) Chinese and  (d) Indian counterparts on the Dublin Convention on cluster munitions.

Kim Howells: We are in regular contact with these and other countries on the issue of cluster munitions. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear on 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 769, we will be working to promote the widest possible support for the future convention on cluster munitions, the text of which was adopted at Dublin on 30 May, with a view to its early entry into force and eventual universalisation.
	We are also continuing to take forward work on cluster munitions within the UN framework of the convention on certain conventional weapons, in which all these countries participate, with a view to it adopting a legally-binding instrument addressing the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions in 2008.

British Council: Languages

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many teachers of  (a) English and  (b) Welsh were employed by the British Council in each country outside the UK, over the last five years.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 20 May 2008
	The table shows the number of teachers employed by the British Council over the last five years. Providing a breakdown by country could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. These data do not include casual staff teachers employed by the British Council at various times during the year.
	
		
			   Number of teachers employed by the British Council 
			 2007-08 1,825 
			 2006-07 1,809 
			 2005-06 1,678 
			 2004-05 1,700 
			 2003-04 1,700 
		
	
	The British Council responds to the considerable global demand for English and supports many English language providers. There is limited demand outside the UK for Welsh language teaching, but where the opportunity does arise for the teaching of the Welsh language, the British Council responds. For example, on behalf of the Welsh Assembly, the British Council provides up to three Welsh language teachers to Patagonia per year. 25 local tutors have been trained to teach Welsh.

Burma: Constitutions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the conditions under which the 10 May 2008 constitutional referendum in Burma was held; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: It is an indictment of the regime that they chose to go ahead with their flawed constitutional referendum at a time when hundreds of thousands of Burma's citizens were suffering without food, clean water or shelter in the Irrawaddy Delta. The political situation in Burma precludes a free and fair vote. Fundamental rights and freedoms are completely absent and the democratic opposition is persecuted — its leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are locked up and its supporters live in fear of detention and violence. The referendum itself was conducted in an atmosphere of intimidation, where criticism of the process was punishable by long prison sentences. We also have serious doubts about the secrecy of voting. The results, a turnout of 98 per cent. (including those areas hit by the cyclone) and a 'yes' vote of over 92 per cent, lack all credibility.
	The Government will continue its work towards an inclusive transition to democracy in Burma including engagement of EU member states and the UN.

China: Olympic Games

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of countries that plan to boycott the Beijing Olympics in protest at the situation in  (a) Tibet and  (b) Darfur.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has received no reports that any country plans to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics in protest at the situations in Tibet and Darfur.

Departmental Legal Opinion

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the total cost to his Department of hiring Jonathan Sumption QC in relation to his work for the Department on the legal proceedings brought by Mr Stuart Wheeler.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 2 June 2008
	As with all litigation, costs will depend on a number of factors including the length of the case. The Government always ensure that they are represented at the appropriate level and secure an hourly rate which represents value for money for the tax payer. The Government are very confident of the strength of their case and, in responding to this action, will apply to recover their costs from the applicant.

Departmental Legal Opinion

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the amount his Department will pay to lawyers defending the legal proceedings brought by Mr Stuart Wheeler.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 2 June 2008
	 I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to his parliamentary written question 207716.

Eritrea: Asylum

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the human rights of Eritrean refugees imprisoned in Egypt; and if he will request the Egyptian authorities not to repatriate them to Eritrea.

Meg Munn: On 2 June, the UK National Director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide informed Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials of the possibility of Eritrean prisoners in Egypt being returned to Eritrea by the Government of Egypt.
	The decision on whether to repatriate Eritrean prisoners to Eritrea would be governed by Egyptian law and is a decision for the Egyptian authorities.
	Our ambassador in Asmara and FCO officials in London raise the issue of human rights with Eritrean officials and the Eritrean ambassador on a regular basis. Following up on human rights abuses in Eritrea is difficult. UK diplomats—like other diplomats—are only given intermittent access to follow up on reported abuses, and travel outside Asmara is restricted.

Ethiopia: Somalia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on Ethiopian troops' withdrawal from Somalia; and what discussions he has had with that government on the subject.

Meg Munn: We have made clear to the Ethiopian Government, including at the highest levels, that we believe their troops should withdraw from Somalia as soon as is possible. The Ethiopian Government has indicated that they will withdraw from Somalia as soon as a credible replacement security force is established.
	While Ethiopia's troops remain in Somalia, we urge them to use only appropriate force, adhere to international humanitarian law and respect human rights.

EU Action

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with  (a) EU partners and  (b) the European Commission on whether the timing of policy announcements has been influenced by the timing of the referendum in the Republic of Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 5 June 2008
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have regular contact with our EU counterparts in other member states and with the European Commission. These discussions include a wide range of bilateral, European and international issues.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The quantity of food waste generated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not recorded and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Friends of UNAMID

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the role of the Friends of UNAMID group is; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Friends of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) group is an informal forum of countries, including the UK, that supports the efforts of the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations to deploy UNAMID. The group co-ordinates donor support for the training and equipping of countries contributing troops to UNAMID, including £4 million of UK support to African troop contributors.

Indonesia: State Visits

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters relating to West Papua he plans to discuss with the President of Indonesia on his forthcoming visit to London; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Unfortunately, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to the UK has been postponed until further notice.

Israel: Anniversaries

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what events held in Israel to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of that State,  (a) he,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials have been invited; what invitations have been (i) accepted and (ii) declined; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did not receive any invitations to go to Israel to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister received an invitation but was unfortunately unable to attend. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv attended an official celebration in Israel on 8 May.
	We do not hold a register of invitations issued to officials. To establish answers to all sections of part  (c) of the hon. Member's question would therefore be resource intensive and incur a disproportionate cost.

Malawi: Diplomatic Service

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for the forthcoming vacancy for the post of High Commissioner to Malawi have been received; and how many have been received from officials of each Government department.

Meg Munn: holding answer 10 June 2008
	The right hon. Jack McConnell MSP has been nominated to be our next high commissioner in Lilongwe. The appointment will be made under the Diplomatic Service Order in Council 1991 and is in line with the Government's policy of recruiting appropriate skills and experience from all areas of public life.

Papua: Armed Conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of  (a) Indonesian military operations in the highlands of West Papua, Jayawijaya Regency and  (b) the effect of such operations on the civilian populations; whether he has made representations to the Indonesian Government on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 6 June 2008
	Our embassy in Jakarta follows the situation in the Indonesian province of Papua closely and has sought confirmation of recent press reports of increased military activity in the Papuan highlands. Human rights activists and local church organisations, based in Wamena, have advised our embassy that these reports are unfounded.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on violence occurring at Abyei, Sudan; if he will take steps to encourage mediation between the National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement on this matter; what reports he has received on how this conflict impacts on the wealth-sharing arrangements under the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement; what assessment he has made of the effect on the Abyei Border Commission's recommendations; and if he will put pressure on both sides to come to an agreement over the Commission's report.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 5 June 2008
	We have received reports that the clashes between the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, local militias and Sudanese armed forces of 14-21 May in Abyei resulted in the displacement of over 60,000 people from the town, and that a ceasefire of 18 May is now being respected.
	We have urged both the National Congress Party and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement, including during the visit to Sudan of the permanent secretaries of the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (18-21 May), to engage with the Assessment and Evaluation Commission as a suitable body to broker a resolution for the border disputes.
	Full implementation of the Abyei Protocol of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement requires resolution of differences over wealth sharing and access to land. Our embassy in Khartoum, in close co-ordination with key partners, continues to apply pressure to both sides to resolve them.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2008,  Official Report, column 335W, on Sudan: peacekeeping operations, what progress has been made in appointing a Joint Chief Mediator; what the mandate of the mediator will be; and when he or she is expected to be in post.

Meg Munn: We are pressing the UN and the African Union (AU) to appoint a joint UN-AU chief mediator for the Darfur political process. We would expect that the chief mediator would be responsible for the mediation between the government of Sudan and the rebels.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the UN Secretary General's report of 9 May 2008, S/2008/304, what progress has been made by the Joint UN-AU hybrid force for Darfur in establishing regular contact with rebel movements to address security challenges in Darfur.

Meg Munn: We understand that the UN-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur, in coordination with the UN-AU Special Envoys for the Darfur political process and representatives of UN agencies, meets regularly with rebel movements and other key parties in Darfur to discuss security matters, including civilian protection and humanitarian access.

Venezuela: Politics and Government

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of improper payments made by the government of Venezuela to the Belize Bank.

Kim Howells: I am aware of media reports of on-going legal proceedings between the government of Belize and Belize Bank, regarding payments reportedly received from Venezuela. This is a matter between the Belizean entities concerned.

Zimbabwe: Elections

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to members of the African Union on the fair and free running of the forthcoming presidential elections in Zimbabwe.

Meg Munn: Both my the hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, are in regular contact with African Union (AU) leaders and foreign ministers to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe and, in particular, the conditions for the presidential run-off election on 27 June. Our embassies and high commissions in Africa have also reminded AU governments of our concerns and emphasised the need for the timely deployment of sufficient numbers of AU observers.

Zimbabwe: Elections

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what technical assistance the Government  (a) have offered and  (b) propose to offer to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in relation to recent and forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has made no request for assistance. Our efforts have focused on urging the Southern African Development Community and African Union leaders, and others in the wider international community, to deploy observers in advance of the second round of the presidential election. These observers should be provided in sufficient numbers, and as soon as possible. Once deployed, we will press for all observer teams and missions to fully co-ordinate their efforts and include contact with and scrutiny of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Zimbabwe: Travel Restrictions

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent dicussions he has had with international counterparts on the restrictions on international travel upon Robert Mugabe and other members of the government of Zimbabwe.

Meg Munn: It was agreed at the meeting of the Council of the EU on 18 February to renew the common position on Zimbabwe for a further 12 months. The effect of this is to extend the duration of the EU's targeted measures, which include a travel ban on President Mugabe and 130 other Zimbabwean citizens.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Childbirth: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many babies were born at  (a) Hemel Hempstead hospital and  (b) Watford hospital in each of the last three years, broken down by constituency of residence of the mother.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 June 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many babies were born at (a) Hemel Hempstead Hospital and (b) Watford Hospital in each of the last three years, broken down by constituency of residency of mother. I am replying in her absence. (210158).
	The table attached provides the number of live births for (a) Hemel Hempstead hospital, and (b) Watford hospital, by parliamentary constituency of mother's usual residence, 2004 to 2006 (the latest year available). There were no births recorded at Hemel Hempstead hospital in2006.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of live births for Hemel Hempstead hospital and Watford hospital( 1) , by parliamentary constituency of mother's usual residence( 2,3) , 2004 to 2006 
			  Live births 
			  Hospital  Parliamentary constituency  2004  2005  2006 
			 Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead 201 185 0 
			  St. Albans 74 98 0 
			  South West Hertfordshire 48 48 0 
			  Hitchin and Harpenden 26 37 0 
			  Other 25 26 0 
			  Total 374 394 0 
			  
			  
			 Watford Watford 1,372 1,338 1,370 
			  Hemel Hempstead 765 793 983 
			  St. Albans 707 748 858 
			  South West Hertfordshire 782 732 844 
			  Hertsmere 513 536 496 
			  Harrow West 113 124 162 
			  Harrow East 111 136 144 
			  Ruislip-Northwood 134 132 134 
			  Hitchin and Harpenden 93 88 128 
			  Hendon 68 81 80 
			  Chesham and Amersham 22 18 25 
			  Finchley and Golders Green 7 12 10 
			  Brent North 10 15 9 
			  Buckingham 7 4 8 
			  South West Bedfordshire 14 6 6 
			  Welwyn Hatfield 5 11 6 
			  Luton South 3 4 5 
			  Beaconsfield 6 5 4 
			  Uxbridge 8 3 4 
			  Other 44 36 54 
			  Total 4,784 4,822 5,330 
			 (1) 'Hemel Hempstead hospital' includes Hemel Hempstead General Hospital and Hemel Hempstead General hospital maternity wing. 'Watford hospital' includes Watford General hospital and Watford General hospital maternity wing. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2008. Figures are for mothers usually resident in England and Wales. (3) Parliamentary constituencies were aggregated to the 'other' category when there were fewer than three live births reported for any year, with the exception of parliamentary constituencies for Hemel Hempstead hospital,2006. There were 16 parliamentary constituencies in the 'other' category for Hemel Hempstead hospital, and 32for Watford hospital.

Civil Partners

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average difference in age was between  (a) male and  (b) female civil partners in each period for which data is available.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, 11 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average difference in age was between (a) male and (b) female civil partners in each period for which data is available. (208785)
	Based on registration data collected in England and Wales, in 2006 the average (mean) age gap between male partners was 8 years compared with 6 years for female partners.

Marriage

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average difference in age between men and women at marriage was in each year since 1978.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 11 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average difference in age between men and women at marriage was in each year since 1978. (208786)
	Marital age difference has been defined as husband's age minus wife's age. Mean marital age differences for England and Wales between 1978 and 2005 are shown in Table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: Mean marital age differences in England and Wales 
			  Marriage year  Mean age difference (years) 
			 1978 2.8 
			 1979 2.7 
			 1980 2.7 
			 1981 2.8 
			 1982 2.8 
			 1983 2.8 
			 1984 2.8 
			 1985 2.7 
			 1986 2.7 
			 1987 2.6 
			 1988 2.6 
			 1989 2.6 
			 1990 2.5 
			 1991 2.5 
			 1992 2.5 
			 1993 2.5 
			 1994 2.5 
			 1995 2.5 
			 1996 2.5 
			 1997 2.5 
			 1998 2.6 
			 1999 2.6 
			 2000 2.6 
			 2001 2.6 
			 2002 2.7 
			 2003 2.7 
			 2004 2.7 
			 2005 2.7 
			  Source: Registration data

Taxation: Income

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of table 14A from the Effects of Taxes and Benefits on Household Income, broken down by the age of the household reference person in five year bands from the ages of 20 to 80 rather than by household income deciles for the current year, for  (a) 2000,  (b) 1995 and  (c) 1990.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 June 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking if a copy of table 14A from the Effects of Taxes and Benefits on Household Income, broken down by the age of the household reference person in five year bands from the ages of 20 to 80 rather than by household income deciles for the current year, for (a) 2000, (b) 1995 and (c) 1990 can be placed in the House of Commons Library. I am replying in her absence. (208787)
	The table requested is provided here for the years 2005/06, 2000/01, 1995/96. Comparable data for 1990/91 are not available. These tables will also be provided to the House of Commons Library.
	Average incomes, taxes and benefits have been presented with households grouped in five year bands according to age of the household reference person (HRP). To ensure that all households are classified, an age group for households where the HRP is aged 80 or over has been included. Households where the HRP is under 20 (of which there are relatively few) are classified in the same group as those where the HRP is aged 20 to 24.
	The concept of HRP was adopted on all government surveys from 2001/02, replacing head of household. Therefore in the tables for the years 2000/01 and 1995/96 head of household is used instead of HRP.

TREASURY

Income

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much households headed by 25 year olds earned as a proportion of the earnings of households headed by people aged 50 to 60 years in  (a) 1980,  (b) 1985,  (c) 1990,  (d) 1995,  (e) 2000,  (f) 2005 and  (g) 2008.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated  11  June 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how much households headed by 25 year-olds earned as a proportion of the earnings of households headed by people aged 50 to 60 years in  (a) 1980,  (b) 1985,  (c) 1990,  (d) 1995,  (e) 2000,  (f) 2005 and  (g) 2008. I am replying in her absence. (208790)
	The table provided shows average household wages and salaries for two age bands (under 30 years old and 50 to 64 years old). Data covering ages 25 years' old and 50 to 60 years' old are not readily available. In addition the latest year for which data are available is 2006.
	From 2001-02, the concept of 'Household Reference Person' (HRP) was adopted on all government surveys in place of head of household. The table is therefore presented by 'Head of household' for the years 1980 to 2000/01 and HRP for the years 2005-06 and 2006.
	The information in this response is based on the Expenditure and Food Survey, which has a sample size of approximately 7,000 households. When breaking down this sample into age bands the sub-samples become quite small. For example in 2006, the age group 'under 30 years group' is based on a relatively small sub-sample of around 600 households, while the 650 to 64 years' group is based on 1,700 households. With such small sample sizes caution should be exercised when drawing any conclusions from this time series.
	
		
			  Average household earnings by households headed by age groups under 30 years and 50 to 64 years( 1, 2, 3) — United Kingdom, 1980 to 2006( 4) 
			   Wages and salaries ( £ per week)( 5) 
			   Under 30 years  50 to 64 years  Earnings ratio of under 30 group to 50 to 64 age group 
			 1980 115 128 0.90 
			 1985 153 158 0.97 
			 1990 243 232 1.05 
			 1995-96 260 245 1.06 
			 2000-01 403 353 1.14 
			 2005-06 455 439 1.03 
			 2006 472 485 0.97 
			 (1) The Family Expenditure Survey was replaced by the Expenditure and Food Survey in 2001-02. (2) Head of Household was replaced by Household Reference Person (HRP) in 2001-02. The HRP is largely determined by who owns or is responsible for the household accommodation, whereas in the case of a couple, the head of household was always the husband. (3) From 2000-01 estimates in this table are based on weighted data, whereas estimates before this are not. (4) From 1957 to 1993 data were collected on a calendar year basis and then from 1994-95 to 2005-06 on a financial year basis. In 2006 the Expenditure and Food Survey was collected on a calendar year basis. (5) Figures rounded to nearest pound. Source: Family Spending, Office for National Statistics.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the removal of the 10 pence income tax rate.

Jane Kennedy: The Chancellor receives a wide range of representations on many different issues
	On 13 May he announced an increase in the individual personal tax allowance by £600 to £6,035 for this financial year, benefiting all basic-rate taxpayers under 65 and removing 600,000 low-income individuals from tax. Around 22 million basic-rate taxpayers will gain an additional £120 this year, fully compensating 80 per cent. of households that lose from the Budget 2007 reforms, with the remaining 1.1 million households seeing their loss at least halved.

Minimum Wage: Prosecutions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 143-4W, on minimum wage: prosecutions, how arrangements for employers to pay minimum wage arrears are established and monitored; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC have a clearly defined process for monitoring the payment of identified arrears to workers. National minimum wage compliance officers send letters to any workers for whom they identify arrears, advising them of the amount due to them and asking them to contact the officer by a due date if the employer does not make payment. An officer will also ask the employer to provide evidence of payment of arrears to workers. Where it is evident that an employer has not made payment to all workers to whom arrears are due, the officer will pursue this with the employer. HMRC remain committed to ensuring that workers receive what they are due and the proposals in the Employment Bill will improve and strengthen the enforcement regime of the minimum wage.

Minimum Wage: Prosecutions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 143-4W, on minimum wage: prosecutions, how many employers have accrued minimum wage arrears in each year since the minimum wage was introduced, broken down by region.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not available.

Minimum Wage: Prosecutions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 143-4W, on minimum wage: prosecutions, how many enforcement notices have been issued to employers who have accrued arrears through failure to pay the minimum wage in each year since the minimum wage was introduced, broken down by region.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Non-domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hereditaments in England have been eligible to receive the Small Business Rate Relief in each of the last three financial years.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Local Government to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Alan Duncan) on 29 April 2008,  Official Report, column 319W.

Revenue and Customs: Aylesbury

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs pay in rent at Kingfisher House, Aylesbury,  (a) overall and  (b) per square metre.

Jane Kennedy: The majority of HMRC offices, including Kingfisher House, Aylesbury, are held under Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts which differ from traditional lease arrangements. An all-inclusive facility price is paid for the provision of serviced accommodation and a standard rent is not paid.

Tax Avoidance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what prosecutions in relation to which proceedings have been completed were brought for the  (a) sale,  (b) marketing and  (c) operation of illegal schemes purporting to operate as tax avoidance schemes in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: Historical records kept in complex fraud cases did not separately identify whether the frauds investigated involved the operation of illegal schemes purporting to operate as tax avoidance schemes. It has been established however that there are currently six such schemes under active criminal investigation. As these are ongoing criminal investigation cases it is not appropriate to provide any additional details at this time.

Taxation: Business

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he holds on the liability for UK tax of the organisations represented on the business-government forum on tax.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC receives and holds broadly the same information about all companies that are liable to taxes and duties in the United Kingdom. HMRC has a duty to maintain taxpayer confidentiality, and it is not therefore possible to release information about the individual tax affairs of particular companies.

Welfare Tax Credits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of unclaimed tax credits was in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the amounts unclaimed for child and working tax credits in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 are available in Table 1 in the HMRC publications "Child and Working Tax Credit take-up rates", for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-take-up.htm
	These are the latest years for which estimates are currently available.

JUSTICE

Children: Death

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if his Department will put in place measures to ensure that  (a) coroners and  (b) local safeguarding children boards work together more effectively on investigating child deaths.

Bridget Prentice: The Coroners (Amendment) Rules 2008 will put measures in place to allow coroners and local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs) to work together to enable LSCBs to meet their obligation to conduct child death reviews and to fulfil their statutory obligations more generally. A new rule, which I plan to lay in Parliament later this month, will (i) require coroners to notify LSCBs of a child death and (ii) enable coroners to share relevant information (such as reports from post-mortem examinations and documents given in evidence at an inquest) with LSCBs.

Dangerous Driving: Sentencing

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what sentencing guidelines apply to the offence of causing death by careless driving.

David Hanson: Sentencing guidelines for the offence of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink and drugs are contained in the Court of Appeal judgment R  v. Cooksley and others (2004)1 Cr App R (S) 1, as modified by R  v. Richardson and others (2006) EWCA Crim 3186. The Sentencing Guidelines Council is expected to publish a definitive guideline on causing death by driving offences shortly. We will commence the new offence of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving after the guideline has been published.

Dogs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many successful prosecutions there were for the breeding of each prohibited breed of dog in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The number of defendants found guilty at all courts for the offence breeding or breeding from a fighting dog in England and Wales for the years 2002 to 2006 is in the following table.
	The table gives the numbers of successful prosecutions in respect of all four prohibited types of dog. Figures on prosecutions do not differentiate between the different types.
	
		
			  N umber of defendants found guilty at all courts for the offence breeding or breeding from a fighting dog in England and Wales, 2002 - 06( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Found guilty 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 2 
			 2004 14 
			 2005 1 
			 2006 1 
			 (1) The data are on the principal offence basis. (2) The data cover the following statute: Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec l(2)(a). (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) The figures in this table give the numbers of successful prosecutions (i.e. convictions) in respect of all four prohibited types of dog. 
		
	
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.

Domestic Violence: Injunctions

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many injunctions against domestic violence perpetrators have been  (a) made by courts and  (b) breached under the provisions of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004; and how many breaches have led to a term of imprisonment.

Bridget Prentice: Between 1 July 2007—when breach of a non-molestation order became a criminal offence—and 31 March 2008, 17,790 non-molestation orders were granted in the county courts across England and Wales.
	Although there is capacity to record breach data in the courts, we suspect cases are not being recorded consistently in all courts.
	Where breach is recorded, quality checks have revealed large variations in the way they are recorded therefore it would not be appropriate to publish the limited information available. The implementation of the Libra IT system in the magistrates courts by the end of 2009 will provide a further opportunity to quality assure data. Statistics on breaches will be published as soon as sufficient improvements have been made.

Epilepsy: Death

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if his Department will require  (a) medical advisers,  (b) coroners and  (c) other relevant professionals to undertake specific training in the (i) investigation, (ii) certification and (iii) holding of inquests into sudden unexplained deaths in epilepsy and other epilepsy-related deaths.

Bridget Prentice: Coroners induction and continuation courses include training on investigation, coroners certificates and holding inquests into sudden unexplained deaths. This includes a course on medicine and a session on the brain and nervous system, which touches on a range of medical conditions such as epilepsy.
	Under proposed reforms to the coroner system, the new post of chief coroner will have a responsibility to prepare and maintain appropriate arrangements for the training and guidance of coroners and those who work with them. He or she will be supported by a national medical advisor who will identify specific training needs in relation to medical issues. The national medical adviser to the chief coroner is likely to work closely with the chief medical officer in relation to the training required by the new medical examiners to be established as part of the Government's reform of the death certification system. The main purpose of medical examiners will be to provide independent scrutiny of the causes of death given by doctors on death certificates when cases are not referred to the coroner. Medical examiners will also provide general medical advice to coroners.

Epilepsy: Death

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if his Department will issue guidance to ensure that people bereaved as a result of sudden unexplained deaths in epilepsy are provided with details of Epilepsy Bereaved and other relevant support services.

Bridget Prentice: A draft charter for bereaved people, which will be enabled by the Coroners and Death Certification Bill, will require coroners, among other matters, to maintain and provide information to families on the main local and national voluntary bodies and support groups which offer help or support to people who are bereaved. This will include bereavement as a result of particular types of incidents or circumstances, such as sudden and unexpected death from epilepsy. I will be issuing a revised draft of the charter for comment this month. In the current system, several coroners already provide this information.

Juries: Mentally Ill

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received on the exclusion of people receiving treatment for a mental illness from undertaking jury service, with particular reference to its compatibility with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

Maria Eagle: In the past 12 months we have received one representation on the issue of mental health and eligibility for jury service. No reference was made in that representation to the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

Legal Aid: Separation

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was provided in legal aid to those involved in disputes arising from separating cohabiting couples in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07.

Maria Eagle: It is not possible to answer the question as the Legal Services Commission (LSC) records information about the type of case rather than the type of client. Cohabiting couples who separate may be involved in a variety of case types recorded by the LSC. These include financial provision for a child, proceedings to establish the extent of ownership in property and advice on relationship breakdown, as well as cases involving parentage, parental responsibility, child residence and contact.

Prisoners

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support provided to prisoners in the high security estate with regard to relationships with partners and close family members; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: There has been no specific assessment of support provided in the high security estate. All prisons are required to enable prisoners to maintain contact with partners and other family members. Prisoners are encouraged to do so by means of social visits, use of the telephone and through correspondence. Prisons may also provide special family day visits enabling longer periods of contact between the prisoner and his family, including some high security prisons.
	In the National Commissioning Plan 2008-09 for the High Security Estate, interventions to help prisoners improve their relationships is identified as an area for improvement within the estate and is one of the four commissioning priorities where we are seeking to develop capacity. A copy of the plan can be downloaded at:
	http://www.noms.homeoffice.gov.uk/newspublicationsevents/publications/strategy/NCP_08?vie=Standard&pubID=530346

Prisoners: Childbirth

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many current prisoners have given birth while serving their prison sentence; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The numbers of prisoners who have given birth whiles serving their custodial sentence since April 2005, when the Prison Service began collecting figures centrally, are as follows:
	
		
			  April to March each year  Number 
			 2007-08 102 
			 2006-07 99 
			 2005-06 106 
		
	
	Information is not kept centrally on numbers of current prisoners who have given birth while serving their custodial sentence.
	The Government are seeking to encourage greater use of community sentences for women offenders where possible. Where a custodial sentence has been given, specific provision is made for those women who are pregnant or have babies with them in prison.

Prisoners: Mothers

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many female prisoners are mothers to children under the age of 18 years.

Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Service does not routinely keep information on the number of prisoners that have dependent children. However, a resettlement survey commissioned by the Prison Service in 2003-04 showed that half of all female prisoners had dependent children (including stepchildren), and that 46 per cent. of those women had lived with at least one dependent child before custody.
	The Government are seeking to encourage greater use of community sentences for women offenders where possible. For those women committed to custody, the Prison Service has in place a range of measures—such as extended children's visits—to support their ties with their families and children. As part of the Family Pathfinder Programme, better ways are being explored to meet a child's needs when a parent goes to prison.

Young Offender Institutions: Mental Health Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 845-7W, on young offender institutions: mental health services, how many young people have been transferred from Parc Prison to specialist NHS secure hospital units for under 18-year-olds in England.

Maria Eagle: In the last two years there have been 85 transfers from the young people's secure estate to specialist mental health units in England. No young people have transferred to NHS secure hospital units from HMP Parc during this time.
	The National Commissioning Group (NCG) is responsible for commissioning a range of specialist services including the national in-patient Secure Forensic Mental Health Service for Young People, which oversees in-patient treatment and referrals to seven specialist units for under 18s in England.
	Separate commissioning procedures exist for under 18s residing in HMYOI Pare. These procedures are governed by the Welsh Assembly Government/NHS Wales.
	 Source: Mental Health Unit, Ministry of Justice.

Young Offenders: Secure Accommodation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many beds there were in England and Wales in medium secure hospital units for young offenders with learning disabilities in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; how many of those beds were occupied in each of the last 36 months for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of the match between provision and demand; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: This information is not held centrally. The National Commissioning Group (NCG) is responsible for commissioning a range of specialist health services including the national in-patient Secure Forensic Mental Health Service for Young People, which in turn oversees in-patient treatment and referrals to seven specialist national health service secure hospital units for under-18s throughout England.
	These seven units provide a range of mental health and learning disability treatments and contain a total of 105 beds. Of these, 17 beds are targeted for young people with learning disabilities. These are situated at Malcolm Arnold House in Northampton and the Roycroft Unit in Newcastle.
	A needs assessment project undertaken in 2004, suggested that between 15 and 33 per cent. of young people referred to the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group (now NCG) funded units had some level of intellectual disability. This equated to a minimum number of eight referrals a year and a maximum of 17. The current level of referrals for learning disability meets the quota of available beds. During times of additional demand, the NCG has the capacity to commission additional beds from the private sector in England.
	Health commissioning responsibilities for Wales are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government/NHS Wales.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Disabled: ICT

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of  (a) the number and  (b) proportion of (i) non-disabled and (ii) disabled people with computer qualifications.

Bill Rammell: The information is not available in the form requested. The following table shows Labour Force Survey estimates of the numbers and proportions who hold a degree in computing or whose highest full vocational qualification at level 2 or above is in computing.
	
		
			  Computing qualifications by whether or not disabled( 1) 
			   Disabled  Not disabled  Total 
			   Number ( T housand)  Percentage of total population  Number ( T housand)  Percentage of total population  Number ( T housand)  Percentage of total population 
			 Holds computer qualification at degree level 33 0.6 259 1.1 292 1.0 
			 Holds vocational computing qualification at full level 2 or above 84 1.5 328 1.4 412 1.4 
			
			 Holds computer qualification at either degree level or vocational full level 2 or higher(2) 113 2.0 561 2.3 674 2.3 
			
			 Total population females aged 19-59, males aged 19-64 5,600  24,000  29,601  
			 (1) The definition of disability is based on the respondent's self-assessment of whether they have a long term health problem or disability. (2) A small number of people hold qualifications at both degree level and vocational full NVQ level 2 or higher so the total is slightly less than the sum of the parts.  Note: Population aged 19-59 for females and 19-64 for males.  Source: England, Quarter 4, 2007, Labour Force Survey.

Foundation Degrees: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of (a) 18 to 20-year-olds and  (b) persons aged 21 years and over with A levels, Vocational A levels, NVQ Level 3, advanced apprenticeships or other qualifications who began courses for (i) full-time and (ii) part-time foundation degrees in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  UK domiciled entrants to foundation degree courses by age and prior qualification—UK higher education institutions academic year 2006/07 
			   Age as at 31 August in reporting year 
			   Full-time  Part-time 
			  Highest qualification on entry:  18 to 20  21 and over  18 to 20  21 and over 
			 Any combinations of GCE 'A'/SCE 'Higher' and GNVQ/GSVQ or NVQ/SVQ at level 3 3,605 1,680 385 2,380 
			  O f which: 
			 Holding one or more GCE 'A' level(1) 2,125 275 80 130 
			 Holding one or more Vocational 'A' level(1) 630 40 15 10 
			  
			 Other level 3 qualifications 1,720 1,200 180 890 
			 Other qualifications 1,635 4,235 510 6,965 
			 (1) These rows may contain an element of double counting, as entrants may hold 'A' levels in addition to Vocational 'A' levels.  Note: Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population basis, and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Higher Education: Admissions

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people in each London borough were offered a university place in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: The Department does not collect information from universities on the offers they make to students. The latest available information on entrants to Higher Education courses is shown in the following table. Comparable figures for the 2007/08 academic year will be available in January 2009.
	
		
			  Entrants( 1)  to UK Higher Education Institutions( 2)  by London local authority( 3)  area—academic years 1997/98 to 2006/07 
			   Academic year 
			  Local authority  1997/98  1998/99  1999/2000  2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			 City of London 85 195 220 205 190 235 215 250 180 200 
			 Camden 2,870 3,285 3,420 3,605 3,560 3,880 3,995 4,070 3,960 3,810 
			 Greenwich 2,120 465 2,570 2,775 3,125 3,315 3,515 3,620 3,590 3,565 
			 Hackney 2,490 3,005 3,265 3,330 3,615 3,860 3,980 4,265 4,200 4,200 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,810 2,030 2,260 2,345 2,365 2,550 2,725 2,705 2,740 2,560 
			 Islington 2,280 2,975 3,035 3,300 3,230 3,525 3,695 3,780 3,630 3,625 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,775 2,080 2,155 2,115 2,220 2,330 2,250 2,390 2,300 2,175 
			 Lambeth 3,510 4,185 4,295 4,415 4,745 5,010 5,005 5,240 5,185 5,080 
			 Lewisham 3,080 3,760 3,925 4,005 4,395 4,625 4,725 4,915 4,810 4,825 
			 Southwark 3,430 4,140 4,140 4,300 4,605 4,820 5,320 5,390 5,075 4,955 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,645 2,115 2,345 2,560 2,795 3,210 3,270 3,420 3,420 3,425 
			 Wandsworth 3,130 3,880 3,905 3,830 3,940 4,450 4,725 4,685 4,505 4,535 
			 Westminster 2,305 2,820 2,940 2,960 3,115 3,455 3,400 3,595 3,365 3,340 
			 Barking and Dagenham 765 1,075 1,005 1,040 1,250 1,605 1,630 1,815 1,875 1,905 
			 Barnet 4,380 5,080 5,320 5,430 5,510 6,110 5,830 6,175 6,195 5,945 
			 Bexley 1,510 1,805 1,755 2,015 2,135 2,185 2,410 2,485 2,610 2,575 
			 Brent 3,660 4,430 4,450 4,715 4,830 4,945 4,890 5,005 4,815 4,725 
			 Bromley 2,690 3,120 3,340 3,435 3,505 3,850 4,000 4,150 4,000 3,910 
			 Croydon 2,870 3,585 3,755 4,115 4,115 4,415 4,580 4,675 4,800 4,765 
			 Ealing 3,715 4,670 4,880 5,030 5,265 5,420 5,280 5,500 5,405 5,355 
			 Enfield 3,125 3,600 3,790 3,920 4,100 4,340 4,420 4,660 4,695 4,480 
			 Haringey 3,265 4,000 3,970 4,025 4,060 4,385 4,340 4,515 4,430 4,320 
			 Harrow 2,820 3,330 3,575 3,590 3,740 3,995 3,950 4,090 3,985 3,895 
			 Havering 1,335 1,730 1,630 1,640 1,730 1,930 2,035 2,420 2,240 2,120 
			 Hillingdon 1,925 2,405 2,650 2,790 2,840 3,095 3,125 3,175 3,265 3,240 
			 Hounslow 2,070 2,670 2,845 3,015 2,940 3,060 3,150 3,245 3,255 3,210 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,215 1,895 1,950 2,010 2,165 2,405 2,460 2,525 2,585 2,460 
			 Merton 1,765 2,225 2,355 2,470 2,565 2,760 2,825 2,870 2,840 2,770 
			 Newham 2,660 3,210 3,415 3,525 3,960 4,400 4,355 4,410 4,465 4,540 
			 Redbridge 2,685 3,340 3,270 3,375 3,865 4,160 4,105 4,120 4,255 4,255 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,830 2,405 2,485 2,385 2,540 2,645 2,760 3,050 2,965 2,895 
			 Sutton 1,255 1,730 1,665 1,835 1,935 2,050 2,140 2,300 2,330 2,200 
			 Waltham Forest 2,420 3,110 3,030 3,085 3,515 3,830 3,700 4,030 3,715 3,870 
			 (1) Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December to maintain a consistent time series across all years and are rounded to the nearest five. Figures include the Open University but exclude those on writing up, sabbatical or dormant mode of study. (2) Covers entrants to postgraduate and undergraduate HE level courses in UK Higher Education Institutions. (3) London boroughs have been taken to be local authority areas. Students are allocated to local authority area by postcode; figures exclude students with missing or invalid postcodes.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Higher Education: Medicine

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which university medical schools admitted students aged under 21 years for training leading to qualifications as a doctor with less than the equivalent of  (a) three Bs at A level,  (b) three Cs at A level and  (c) three Ds at A level; how many such students were admitted in each year since 2001; and which university medical schools plan to admit students under the auspices of the widening participation scheme.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 2 June 2008
	Several medical schools run schemes to encourage applications from bright students from disadvantaged or non-traditional backgrounds, but data on admissions, costs and student outcomes for these schemes are not collected centrally.
	Information on the pre-entry qualifications of students entering first degree courses in medicine is shown in Table 1. Comparable figures prior to the 2002-03 academic year are not available.
	
		
			  Table 1: UK Domiciled entrants aged under 21 years, to first degree courses in medicine, by qualifications on entry( 1) —Based upon UCAS tariff score from A levels from students reporting A level as their highest qualification on entry, 2002/03 to 2006/07: English higher education institutions( 2) 
			Of which: those with scores equivalent to: 
			  Academic year  Entrants with A levels as highest qualification on entry  Less than Bs( 3) /300 tariff points  Less than 3 Cs( 4) /240 tariff points  Less than 3 Ds/180 tariff points 
			 2002/03 3,550 130 55 20 
			 2003/04 3,830 125 35 15 
			 2004/05 4,165 95 45 10 
			 2005/06 4,105 70 25 10 
			 2006/07 3,960 75 30 20 
			 (1) In 2002/03 the UCAS tariff replaced A level scores. The tariff covers a wider range of qualifications though it is possible to identify those students with the tariff equivalent of 3 grade Bs (300 points), 3 grade Cs (240 points) or 3 grade Ds (180 points). However, tariff score contains an unlimited number of eligible qualifications, not just the student's best three A levels. (2) Excluding the Open University. (3) Including students with less than 3 Cs/240 tariff points and less than 3 Ds/180 tariff points. (4) Including students with less than 3 Ds/180 tariff points.  Note: Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Populations basis and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record.

Sign Language: Training

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what reports he has received of the level of training of sign language interpreters in Wales; and if he will increase provision for sign language interpreters training in England.

Bill Rammell: The Department is not aware of any reports on the level of training of sign language interpreters in Wales.
	The Department recognises the need for sign language interpreters. However, the Government are not the employer of British sign language professionals. FE Colleges were established as independent organisations following the enactment of the Further and Higher Education Act in 1992. As such they are responsible for their own HR arrangements, including recruitment and deployment of specialists such as sign language interpreters, and decisions on appropriate sign language training. Wider FE providers are also generally independent organisations, similarly responsible for their own HR arrangements. We expect all FE learning providers to organise their work force to meet local circumstances and learner and business needs.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Business: Yorkshire and the Humber

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many business registrations for value added tax there have been in  (a) Leeds Metropolitan District,  (b) Leeds West constituency area and  (c) Yorkshire and Humberside in each year since 2000.

Patrick McFadden: VAT registration data provide the only accurate indicator of the level of business start-up activity.
	The number of new VAT registrations in Leeds metropolitan district, Leeds, West constituency and Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region are shown as follows for 2000 to 2006. Data for VAT registrations and de-registrations in 2007 will be available autumn 2008.
	
		
			  Number of new VAT registrations and VAT-registered businesses 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  New VAT registrations 
			 Leeds metropolitan district 1,945 1,835 1,955 2,095 2,040 1,965 2,030 — 
			 Leeds, West constituency 150 135 155 155 155 165 165 — 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region 12,005 11,665 12,440 13,840 13,060 12,935 12,900 — 
			  
			  All VAT-registered businesses 
			 Leeds metropolitan district 17,880 18,025 18,065 18,145 18,510 18,780 19,180 19,565 
			 Leeds, West constituency 1,355 1,400 1,415 1,440 1,470 1,515 1,575 1,645 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region 125,110 126,470 127,305 128,680 132,005 134,515 137,195 139,970 
			  Source:  BERR National Statistics publication 'Business start-ups and closures: VAT registrations and de-registrations 2006' available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat/uidex. htm 
		
	
	Although the number of new VAT registrations in each area has fluctuated between 2000 and 2006 the total number of VAT registered businesses has increased in all areas over the period. The stock of VAT registered businesses in the Leeds metropolitan district has increased by 1,685 (9 per cent.) between the start of 2000 and the start of 2007; in Leeds, West constituency there has been an increase of 290 (21 per cent.); and in Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region there has been an increase of 14,860 (12 per cent.).
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £60,000 at the start of 2006. Only 1.9 million out of 4.5 million UK enterprises (43 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2006.

Carbon Capture Storage

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department plans to spend on research and development on carbon capture storage technology between May 2008 and October 2014.

Malcolm Wicks: Carbon Capture and Storage research and development is supported under the Research Councils' Energy Programme and is a priority for the Technology Strategy Board. Carbon Capture and Storage technology is one of a number of areas which is being considered by the Energy Technologies Institute. Public sector funding for the Research Councils, Energy Technologies Institute and Technology Strategy Board is provided by the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills.
	In addition, BERR is committed to spending £2.2 million on the development of an Oxy-Fuel Combustion demonstration system during 2008 to 2010. The Government announced in the 2008 Budget that a new call for project proposals will be made shortly under the Environmental Transformation Fund which will include support for the development of component parts of Carbon Capture and Storage. In November 2007 the Government announced a competition for one of the world's first commercial-scale demonstrations of Carbon Capture and Storage Technology on a coal fired power plant. The project is scheduled for completion in 2014.

Carbon Capture Storage

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions his Department has had on the regulatory framework of its carbon capture storage policy; and who will have responsibility for  (a) storage and  (b) potential liabilities under the policy.

Malcolm Wicks: We expect to consult shortly on the regulatory framework for carbon dioxide storage in the offshore area. This will include arrangements for storage and potential liabilities. Storage will be the responsibility of licensed operators, who will also be responsible for all liabilities during the entire period of their licence (including a period after the store has been closed to further injection of carbon dioxide, during which its behaviour will be closely monitored).

Carbon Capture Storage

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the licensing regime in the North Sea on the Government's carbon capture storage policy.

Malcolm Wicks: Part 1, Chapter 3 of the Energy Bill provides for the storage of carbon dioxide in the UK offshore area, including the North Sea. We expect to consult shortly on the licensing regime that this legislation will make possible. The consultation will help us design licensing arrangements that will effectively interface with other uses of the offshore area, including the production of petroleum in the North Sea.

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for what proportion of its staff his Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Gareth Thomas: Details are not held centrally as learning and development is devolved across the department. Individuals and their Line Managers identify learning and development needs, and the appropriate training to attend, over the course of the year.

Electricity: Meters

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received from businesses about the implications of the change in the Government's policy on the introduction of electricity display devices; and what his estimate is of the costs to business of this decision.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The Government announced in April 2008 that it would reach a voluntary agreement with energy suppliers on how displays can be made available to customers in the short-to-medium term. Discussions with energy suppliers are ongoing. My Department has received some representations from individual consumers and from one environmental organisation about this decision, but none from businesses.
	This decision should be considered in the context of a possible roll-out of smart metering to domestic consumers and small business customers. It is the Government's view that a display device should be provided with a smart meter in any such roll-out. We are continuing to assess the costs and benefits of a roll-out of smart metering and intend to take a decision as soon as possible after the second report from the Energy Demand Research Project.

Employment

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had on protecting people in vulnerable employment; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 June 2008
	I have frequent discussions about protecting people in vulnerable employment. In addition, the Vulnerable Worker Enforcement Forum has been meeting under my chairmanship to look at the nature of employment rights abuses, assess the effectiveness of the current enforcement arrangements, and identify possible improvements. A report on the Forum's work and the Government's conclusions will be published shortly.

Energy Supply: Trade Competitiveness

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what guidance his Department has issued to major energy suppliers on techniques used to encourage consumers to switch supplier; what recent representations he has received on the topic; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 5 June 2008
	The Government, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) and Energywatch encourage customers to use the competitive market in gas and electricity supply, and promote access to that market.
	Although it is for gas and electricity suppliers, like other private sector companies, to decide how to market services and products, at Ofgem's recent Fuel Poverty Summit, suppliers agreed to increase the transparency of their offers on their websites to facilitate the role of advice organisations, switching sites and other intermediaries. In addition, market leader switching sites providers agreed to provide telephone advice on tariffs to those who do not have internet access.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much in compensation payments former miners have received for  (a) vibration white finger and  (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema in (i) Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency, (ii) Barnsley and (iii) Doncaster since the compensation schemes started.

Malcolm Wicks: The following table shows how much compensation has been awarded to former miners for Vibration White Finger (VWF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as requested as at 1 June 2008.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Total damages( 1) 
			   VWF  COPD  Total 
			 Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency 60.0 57.0 117.0 
			 Barnsley(2) 123.6 127.6 251.2 
			 Doncaster(3) 66.1 54.0 120.1 
			 (1) Total damages paid includes all damages paid on both settled and outstanding claims. (2) Barnsley has been categorised on the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency, Barnsley West and Penistone constituency and Barnsley Central constituency. (3) Doncaster has been categorised on the Doncaster Central constituency and Doncaster North constituency.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what changes  (a) have been made and  (b) are planned to be made by his Department to the planning requirements for the domestic stream of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme; what his Department's plans to promote the programme are; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government recently announced relaxed planning requirements for the majority of micro generation technologies, which came into effect on 6 April 2008. There is work outstanding on permitted development for micro wind and air source heat pumps (ASHP). As a result applicants to the Low Carbon Buildings programme (LCBP) are directed to the Energy Savings Trust website http://www.energysavingtrust. org.uk/generate_your_own_energy/planning_ permission_for_renewable_energy_technologies/ where guidance of permitted development is set out for each technology.
	The Government are working with the Energy Saving Trust to promote the Low Carbon Buildings programme household funding stream. To date, we have used both their advice network and market segmentation models to target those that are most likely to install microgeneration technologies and apply for grants. Further details are available at www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk. BERR is working with EST on proposals to do further work with local authorities on promoting the programme to householders.

New Businesses: Buckinghamshire

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  how many business start-ups took place in  (a) the town of Aylesbury,  (b) Aylesbury constituency,  (c) Aylesbury Vale District,  (d) Wycombe District and  (e) Chiltern District in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many business registrations for value added tax there were in  (a) the town of Aylesbury,  (b) Aylesbury constituency,  (c) Aylesbury Vale District,  (d) Wycombe District and  (e) Chiltern District in each of the last three years.

Gareth Thomas: VAT registration data provide the only accurate indicator of the level of business start-up activity.
	The number of new VAT registrations in Aylesbury Vale, Wycombe and Chiltern districts and Aylesbury constituency are shown as follows for 2004 to 2006. Data for VAT registrations and de-registrations in 2007 will be available autumn 2008.
	
		
			  Number of new VAT registrations and VAT-registered businesses 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  New VAT registrations 
			 Aylesbury Vale district 705 715 740 — 
			 Chiltern district 420 425 440 — 
			 Wycombe district 695 670 695 — 
			 Aylesbury constituency 370 430 435 — 
			  
			  All VAT-registered businesses 
			 Aylesbury Vale district 7,300 7,445 7,575 7,785 
			 Chiltern district 4,735 4,785 4,855 4,950 
			 Wycombe district 7,835 7,880 7,945 8,075 
			 Aylesbury constituency 4,130 4,180 4,270 4,415 
			  Source: BERR National Statistics publication 'Business start-ups and closures: VAT registrations and de-registrations 2006' available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat/index.htm 
		
	
	Although the number of new VAT registrations in each area has fluctuated between 2004 and 2006 the total number of VAT registered businesses has increased in all areas over the period. The stock of VAT registered businesses in the Aylesbury Vale district has increased by 485 (7 per cent.) between the start of 2004 and the start of 2007; in Chiltern district there has been an increase of 215 (5 per cent.); in Wycombe district there has been an increase of 240 (3 per cent.); and in Aylesbury constituency there has been an increase of 285 (7 per cent.).
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £60,000 at the start of 2006.
	Only 1.9 million out of 4.5 million UK enterprises (43 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2006.

Post Offices: Cash Dispensing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with banks on locating cash dispensers in post offices.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 June 2008
	 This is a commercial and operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what percentage of post offices have been closed in  (a) North West Cambridgeshire constituency,  (b) Cambridgeshire,  (c) the East of England and (d) England and Wales since 1997.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, managing director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which organisations in Wales participated in consultations on closure of post offices.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 June 2008
	A list of respondents to the Government's national consultation on the post office network was published in the Government's response published on 17 May 2007 and is accessible on the Department's website:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39479.pdf.

Post Offices: Closures

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) post offices within supermarkets and (b) stand-alone post offices have been chosen for closure; and what percentage this represents of each category of post office.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 June 2008
	This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, managing director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many post offices in Bournemouth are being considered for closure under the Post Office Network Change Programme.

Patrick McFadden: I understand that Post Office Ltd plans to start local public consultation on any proposed post office closures in Bournemouth on 15 July.

Post Offices: Miserden

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for what reasons there is to be a further period of consultation on Miserden Post Office, with particular reference to proposals for outreach.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Standards

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what guidance is issued to post offices on maximum waiting times at post office counters; what procedure is in place for complaints from  (a) hon. Members,  (b) local authorities and  (c) members of the public about excessive waiting times; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Management of queuing times at post offices is an operational for Post Office Ltd. (POL) and I have asked Alan Cook, the Managing Director, to reply direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Complaints about queuing times can be made to POL by telephone on 08457 223344, online at
	www.postoffice.co.uk
	or in writing by freepost to Royal Mail Customer Services, Freepost RM1 1AA. If the response from POL is not considered to be satisfactory, then Postwatch, the statutory consumer body, can be contacted by telephone on 08456 013265 or in writing to Freepost, Postwatch or online at
	www.postwatch.co.uk.

Postal Services: EU Law

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government have taken to implement Directive 2006/123/EC of 12 December 2006 on services in the internal market; what estimate he has made of the number of services affected by implementation; what assessment he has made of the effect of implementation on  (a) the Royal Mail and  (b) the Post Office; and what information he holds on the implementation of the directive in other EU member states, including (i) the date of implementation and (ii) the length of any derogation.

Patrick McFadden: The Government recently consulted on its proposals for implementing the services directive in the UK and intends to publish its response shortly. This response document will summarise views gathered from the consultation and set out the Government's latest implementation plans. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The directive applies to all service sectors except those specifically excluded. It is expected to produce substantial benefits to the UK economy of between £4-6 billion per year.
	Postal services are within scope of the directive but there is a derogation for services of general interest in the postal sector from some of the directive's provisions.
	A large-scale exercise is currently underway across Government to "screen" legislation and administrative requirements for compliance with the directive. The legislation governing Royal Mail and the Post Office is being examined as part of this exercise. Information on the regulatory regime that applies to postal services may need to be included in the point of single contact that the directive requires us to create.
	The directive further requires member states to impose certain obligations on service providers, which includes Royal Mail and the Post Office. For example:
	Article 22 requires member states to ensure that service providers make certain information available to service recipients.
	Article 27 requires member states to take the general measures necessary to ensure that service providers supply contact details to which recipients can send a complaint or a request for information about the service provided, and that they respond to complaints within the shortest possible time and make their best efforts to find a satisfactory solution.
	Article 20 requires member states to ensure that the general conditions of access to a service made available by providers to the public at large do not discriminate against recipients based on their nationality or place of residence (although providers are able to retain differences in their service conditions where these differences are justified by objective criteria, such as differing prices for postage and packaging depending on where the client is located).
	All member states are required to implement before 28 December 2009, are working to do so and meet regularly with each other and the commission to share information and best practice.

Redundancy Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on the effectiveness and appropriateness of current UK statutory redundancy settlements.

Patrick McFadden: The current system for redundancy payments is working effectively.

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress is being made by his Department in developing long-term synergies between wave, wind, solar and geothermal energy generation; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Later this year we will consult on what more we should do, above and beyond current policies, to increase renewable energy use in the UK to meet our share of the EU 2020 renewable energy target. This will include consideration of the long-term role that wave, wind, solar and geothermal generation can play in our energy mix.

Royal Mail: Crewe

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which will be lost as a result of the proposed closure of the Royal Mail sorting office in Crewe.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 6 June 2008
	I understand that a review of mail centres in the north-west has been conducted, but no decisions have as yet been taken. This is an operational matter for Royal Mail.
	I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to provide a direct reply to the hon. Member, with further information.

Summertime

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will review the dates on which daylight saving commences and finishes to fall more equally either side of the winter solstice.

Patrick McFadden: The start and end dates of summer time are harmonised across EC member states through a European Directive. The Directive stipulates that, in each member state, clocks are put forward annually by one hour for the period between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
	There are no plans to change the summer time arrangements at this time.

Tidal Power

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funding his Department is providing for the research and development of offshore tidal stream turbines in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK has in place a comprehensive set of support measures, to assist and encourages the development of marine technologies.
	The package of support measures we have put in place, includes the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's (EPSRC) Supergen Marine programme, Carbon Trust funding, research funding from the Technology Strategy Board and the Energy Technologies Institute. BERR's £50 million Marine Renewables Deployment Fund, provides a package of measures central to which is a £42 million 'Wave and Tidal Stream Energy Demonstration Scheme'. We also support the European Marine Energy Centre wave and tidal stream test site in Orkney and have offered £4.5 million support to the proposed £28 million Wave Hub off the Cornish coast.
	The aforementioned demonstrates the Government's continued commitment to supporting the development of this sector from R and D towards, the eventual commercialisation of tidal stream technology.
	In addition through the Energy Bill we are banding the Renewables Obligation to provide additional support to foster the development of these emerging technologies, this would double the incentive available to the marine sector.

Tidal Power: River Severn

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1763W, on tidal power: River Severn, which companies have been awarded the contracts for feasibility studies.

Malcolm Wicks: A consortium led by Parsons Brinckerhoff was awarded in April 2008 the contract to manage a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the Severn Estuary. The consortium includes Black and Veatch, The Environment Council, Environ, ABPmer, HR Wallingford, Hartley Anderson, and George Corderoy.
	PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) were also appointed to advise on how a Severn tidal power scheme could be financed and the potential ownership options and possible Government support mechanisms.
	Further details of these contract awards can be found in the press release issued by my Department on 6 May 2008, which can be seen at
	www.berr.gov.uk/energy/severntidalpower.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in (i) her Department and (ii) the agencies for which she is responsible in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office HQ, Identity and Passport Service (IPS), and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) do not currently offer apprenticeship schemes.
	The United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) does offer apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships to its staff, however there are currently no reliable data collected on actual numbers of participants, as decisions on offering apprenticeships have up to recently been taken on a local basis and therefore not centrally recorded.

Asylum

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to ensure that applicants and their legal representatives are informed  (a) that consideration has begun and  (b) of the final decision in asylum cases considered under the Case Resolution Directorate without the need for a questionnaire; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency is currently in discussion with stakeholders via the case resolution sub-group of the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum regarding the precise circumstances in which an applicant and their legal representatives will be contacted.
	I will write to the hon. Member with further details in due course.

Asylum

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has issued on officials or representatives of foreign governments attending an interview with a national of their country applying for asylum in the United Kingdom.

Liam Byrne: Guidance has been issued to asylum staff that they must not disclose any information about an individual's asylum claim to their country of origin while the claim is under consideration, unless the applicant has given his explicit consent for the transfer of the data. Accordingly, officials or representatives of foreign governments are not permitted by the United Kingdom Border Agency to attend asylum interviews.

Asylum

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the asylum seekers dispersal programme was including the administrative costs of joint contracts and housing providers  (a) in total and  (b) in each region for each of the last four financial years.

Liam Byrne: We do not hold separate information for the administrative costs of joint contracts and housing providers. The cost of dispersed accommodation in the four years in question was as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2004-05 315 
			 2005-06 183 
			 2006-07 155 
			 2007-08 179 
		
	
	These figures include accommodation costs and the costs of transporting asylum seekers to and from accommodation. Figures for 2007-08 are provisional and subject to audit and possible amendment.
	We do not hold expenditure information by region for any year apart from 2007-08 as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 London and South East 12.8 
			 Wales and South West 17.6 
			 Scotland 26.6 
			 North West 28.5 
			 Midlands 37.7 
			 North East 56.5

Asylum

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government has taken to improve the quality of the initial decision-making stage of asylum applications.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The UK Border Agency has taken a number of steps to improve the quality of initial decision making. All asylum case owners undergo a comprehensive 55-day foundation training programme, and a period of mentoring within that programme. An independent quality audit team has been established that assesses asylum decisions on a monthly basis against a framework agreed with UNHCR. We are currently working with UNHCR in developing and piloting initiatives such as a decision making template.

Asylum

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government have taken to provide access to healthcare and education for families during the asylum application process.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The Government policy on access to healthcare and education for families during the asylum process remains unchanged. All persons with an outstanding application for asylum in the UK, including where applicable an outstanding appeal, are entitled to access to NHS services. Education is made available to all children of asylum seekers who are of compulsory school age.

Asylum: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government have taken to consider the welfare of children during the asylum application process.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The UK Borders Act 2007 placed a specific obligation on the UK Border Agency to have regard to a code of practice for keeping children safe from harm while in the United Kingdom. The agency is currently consulting about the code of practice, with opportunities for stakeholders to attend conferences and discuss specific concerns.
	The agency has already started to roll out a 'Keeping Children Safe' training programme to UK Border Agency staff to raise awareness about children's issues so that they are more responsive to children and their needs, including protection issues.
	The Agency has also published 'Better Outcomes: The Way Forward' which sets out a number of proposals on the way unaccompanied asylum seeking children are cared for and treated during the processing of their asylum application. A copy of this has been placed with the Library (DEP 2008-0274).
	Additionally, each unaccompanied asylum seeking child now has a dedicated case owner who will see the application through from beginning to end. These case owners have received specialist training to ensure that they approach their task with due sensitivity to the needs of the child.

Asylum: Deportation

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many failed asylum seekers were deported from the UK in each of the last 10 years; and how long on average it took to deport a failed asylum seeker after final refusal of an asylum claim in each year;
	(2)  how many illegal immigrants were deported from the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 3 December 2007
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed, including voluntary departures, from the UK on an annual basis in the "Control of Immigration: Statistics Command Paper". The information is broken down by asylum applicants, including dependants, and those who have not claimed asylum. This latest publication covers 1996 to 2006 statistics and is published in table 6.1 Persons removed from the United Kingdom and those subject to enforcement action. Final 2007 statistics will be published in the command paper this summer but provisional 2007 figures are available in table 8b: Persons removed from the United Kingdom in the most recent quarterly web-based asylum statistics bulletin.
	Persons departing voluntarily can leave the UK at any time without informing the authorities. The Border and Immigration Agency often learns of such people departing after they have left the UK, and hence, it is not always possible to say when they left. Since voluntary departures are included in figures on removals it is therefore not possible to say how long on average it takes to remove asylum applicants. While it should theoretically be possible to exclude the cases having left the UK at an unknown time, and then calculate an average, in practice this would be very time-consuming and would therefore incur disproportionate cost.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate web site at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum: Deportation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government has taken to maintain the wellbeing of refused asylum seekers when taking action to remove them from the UK.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The Government policy to maintain the wellbeing of refused asylum seekers when taking action to remove them from the UK remains unchanged. All removal cases are treated with due consideration to any compelling or compassionate factors which may be raised prior to removal. Failed asylum seekers subject to enforcement action are always treated with courtesy and dignity and removals are done in the most sensitive way possible.

Asylum: Housing

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many households were supported by the National Asylum Support Service and Border and Immigration Agency in accommodation supplied by Newcastle City Council in each quarter of  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006 and  (c) 2007.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 15 January 2008
	We do not record information on the basis of households.
	The available information relating to the number of principal asylum applicants supported in accommodation provided by Newcastle city council at the end of each of the relevant quarters is in the following table. This accommodation is provided under the contract that the Home Office has with the North East Consortium for Asylum and Refugee Support (NECARS). You will note an increase in the number supported during quarter 3 of 2007. This was due to the transfer of section 4 supported asylum applicants from a private sector provider to Newcastle city council during this period.
	
		
			  Principal asylum applicants supported in accommodation provided by Newcastle city council at the end of each quarter year, quarter 1 2005 to quarter 1 2008 
			Number of principal asylum applicants 
			 2005 Quarter 1 340 
			  Quarter 2 320 
			  Quarter 3 300 
			  Quarter 4 310 
			
			 2006 Quarter 1 310 
			  Quarter 2 320 
			  Quarter 3 390 
			  Quarter 4 380 
			
			 2007 Quarter 1 350 
			  Quarter 2 350 
			  Quarter 3 490 
			  Quarter 4 505 
			
			 2008 Quarter 1 453

Asylum: Housing

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1827-8W, on immigration: housing, what estimate she has made of the number of existing properties in asylum support housing transferred to the private rented sector.

Liam Byrne: As a result of the recent exercise to determine the older family supported asylum applications we estimate that 635 properties are currently subject to agreements between local authorities and private accommodation providers.

Asylum: Sudan

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1247W, on asylum: Sudan, what progress has been made in her Department's inquiry into the alleged illegal interview of Darfuris with an active asylum case by a Sudanese embassy official in Home Office facilities in March and April 2007.

Liam Byrne: All investigations have now been completed. A response to the report by the organisation Waging Peace, is currently being prepared and will be sent to them shortly.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition: Dover

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles were stopped at the Port of Dover as a result of the use of automatic number plate recognition in the last 12 months.

Vernon Coaker: A total of 2,665 vehicles were stopped at the port of Dover as a result of the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) in 2007, the most recent timeframe for which figures are available. This also includes other agency use of ANPR.

Campusalam

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has allocated to  (a) the Campusalam website and  (b) the Lokahi Foundation in each year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 20 May 2008
	The Department's payments to the Lokahi Foundation are set out in the following table.
	There are no records on the Department's accounting system of any payments to the Campusalam website.
	
		
			   Payments to the Lokahi Foundation  (£) 
			 2005-06 112,000 
			 2006-07 129,800 
			 2007-08 215,000 
			 2008-09 92,500

Crime: Taxis

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) violent attacks,  (b) sexual attacks,  (c) thefts and  (d) other crimes were reported against (i) licensed and (ii) unlicensed taxi drivers in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not collected centrally. While the Home Office collects statistics on offences recorded by the police, no information is collected regarding personal characteristics of either the victim or the alleged offender.

Crimes of Violence: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of violence were recorded in the Peterborough Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area in each year since 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Statistics on the number of offences of violence against the person recorded by the police in Peterborough are given in the following table. Violence against the person has fallen by 11 per cent. since 2002-03. There was fall of 3 per cent. between 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	Because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002, figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.
	
		
			  Offences of violence against the person recorded by police in the Peterborough Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area 
			   Number of offences 
			 2001-02(1) 2,705 
			 2002-03 4,524 
			 2003-04 5,133 
			 2004-05 5,165 
			 2005-06 4,156 
			 2006-07 4,017 
			 (1) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.

Customs Officers: Stansted Airport

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed in immigration control at Stansted airport; and how many are on duty at any one time, broken down by shift.

Liam Byrne: A total of 191 staff are employed by the UK Border Agency in immigration control at Stansted airport.
	The UK Border Agency does not disclose how many staff are on duty at any one time broken down by shift, as this could provide information of value to those seeking to circumvent immigration controls, thereby prejudicing the prevention and detection of immigration offences.

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to each police force of kennelling dogs has been since the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 came into force.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of her Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Data showing volumes of staff declaring their gender, ethnicity, disability and sexuality (and their proportions of total staff) are in table 1. These data are valid as at the end of April 2008, and have been collected from Home Office Headquarters, UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service, and the Criminal Records Bureau.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion and numbers of staff declared by gender, BME identity, disability and sexuality. 
			   Proportion of staff (Percentage)  Proportion of staff (Declared) (Percentage)  Number of  s taff  Number of  s taff (Declared) 
			  Area  (a) Male  (b) Female  (c) BME  (d) Disabled  (e) Not  h eterosexual  (a) Male  (b) Female  (c) BME  (d) Disabled  (e) Not  h eterosexual 
			 HQ 52 48 23 6 5 1,785 1,631 372 87 40 
			 UKBA 45 55 27 4 2 8,251 10,085 2,967 722 168 
			 IPS 36 64 13.5 5.8 (1)— 1,383 2,485 524 224 (1)— 
			 CRB 42 58 1.7 3.3 (1)— 205 278 8 16 (1)— 
			 Total 45 55 15 4 1 11,624 14,479 3,871 1,049 208 
			 (1) Unavailable.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) staff at senior civil service level in (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made.

Liam Byrne: End of year performance bonus payments for staff in the Home Office headquarters, UK Border Agency, and for senior civil servants (SCS) across the Home Office are linked to performance appraisals. Table 1 provides the amount and number of payments made for 2006-07 end of year performance bonuses but paid in the financial year 2007-08.
	Staff in the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) receive end of year corporate bonuses, and change agent bonuses. Table 2 shows performance bonus details for IPS
	Staff in the Criminal Records Bureau do not receive end of year performance bonuses.
	Table 3 provides the amount and number of payments made for end of year bonuses for senior civil servants in the Home Office HQ, UK border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau in the financial year 2007-08.
	To provide a breakdown into Home Office HQ and its agencies would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Table 1: Amount and number of payments made for 2006-07 
			  Financial year  Amount paid (£)  Number of payments made 
			 2007-08 4,482,371 5,657 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Performance bonus details for Identity and Passport Service (IPS) 
			  Financial year  Amount paid  (£)  Number of payments made 
			 2007-08 1,253,045 3,674 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: End of year bonuses for senior civil servants in the Home Office HQ, UKBA, IPS and CRB 
			  Financial year  Amount paid (£)  Number of payments made 
			 2007-08 1,458,305 155 
			  Footnotes and health warnings 1. This includes data for both senior civil servants and all other staff at working in Home Office Headquarters and UK Border Agency. 2. Although the performance bonus payment is made in financial year 2007-08 the period of performance assessment is 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007. 3. Non-SCS staff payments are made with the annual pay settlement or later in the year if appraisals are not completed and returned on time. 4. SCS bonus payments were made in November 2007.

Departmental Sick Leave

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days sick leave were taken on average by staff in her Department in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information is already in the public domain, as answered to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 20 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1954W. The answer was as in table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: PQ 198960: Working days lost to sickness per FTE staff per year 
			  Business area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Central Home Office 6.7 6.1 6.3 5.2 5.4 
			 BIA 8.5 8.7 9.5 10.3 10.8 
			 HMPS (Prison Service) 14.7 13.3 12.7 12.2 11.64 
			 CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) 11 9.4 9.6 8.8 8.6 
			 IPS (Identity and Passport Service) 10.9 11.1 11.4 10.3 10.1

Departmental Training

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the staff in her Department who work on immigration matters have undertaken training in child protection.

Liam Byrne: The importance of appropriate training is recognised in the Code of Practice for Keeping Children Safe. A comprehensive training programme is being delivered and further developed to ensure that this is provided.
	At the end of May 2008, 7,667 UK Border Agency staff had used a core e-learning module aimed at increasing awareness of children who may be at risk of harm, and instructing them how to follow up in these situations. More business-specific e-learning modules had been used by 8,267 staff. In addition, 133 two day courses had been delivered to 1,429 UK Border Agency staff who have direct contact with children as an integral part of their job.
	Both the e-learning and face-to-face workshop training are still being offered. The intention is that all UK Border Agency staff will complete the core e-learning; and all staff who have direct contact with children will complete both types of e-learning and the two-day course.
	Specialist training will also be available shortly for those staff undertaking particular activities such as the interviewing of minors.

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what proportion of its staff her Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office HQ, United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), Identity and Passport Service (IPS), and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) provide a range of vocational training.
	Data are not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Deportation: Appeals

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals she made against decisions by judges not to deport foreign citizens in each year since 2003; and what proportion were successful.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 25 April 2008
	In 2005 legislation governing appeals changed to create the Unified Appeals Process. All UK Border Agency IT systems were updated at this time, and accuracy on data from before this change cannot be guaranteed. Hence we are unable to give reliable figures for the financial years 2003-04 and 2004-2005.
	When an appeal against a deportation order is allowed by an Immigration Judge, the Secretary of State for the Home Department may apply either to the Court of Appeal or to the High Court for permission to appeal against the Immigration Judge's decision. If successful, the Secretary of State will be granted permission to appeal.
	The figures for the number of requests lodged by the Secretary of State for the Home Department for permission to appeal against an Immigration Judge's decision in a deportation appeal, and the number of these requests that succeeded are given in the following table for the financial years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	
		
			   Number of requests made  Percentage of requests successful 
			 2005 65 60 
			 2006 161 70 
			 2007 134 66

Deportation: Children

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many children who are British citizens have accompanied parents who are currently subject to removal or deportation directions;
	(2)  to which countries children who are British citizens accompanying their parents have been removed in the last two years;
	(3)  what information is given to Foreign and Commonwealth Office representatives in receiving countries by the UK Border Agency about children who are British citizens who have been removed or deported with their parents; and what assistance is offered to these children.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 June 2008
	The United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) does not remove or deport children who are British citizens.
	We invite parents who hail from a third country to take their UK-born children with them when they return to their country of origin. This is only done if that is in the best interests of the child and all parties (parents, UKBA, UKBA Children's Champion and children's services) agree.
	Further advice on family removals is available in chapter 45 of the Enforcement Guidance and Instructions Manual. Copies of the document are placed in the Library of the House. It is also available to view at:
	www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/enforcement/oemsectione
	The information requested in PQ 207582 and PQ 207585 could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
	The UKBA does not give any advice or assistance to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) representatives in receiving countries when parents take their UK born children with them when they return to their country of origin.

Drugs: Misuse

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hand swab drug tests were undertaken by police in each London borough in the last period for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Compulsory screening tests of suspected drug drivers can only be conducted by means of a device of a type approved by the Secretary of State. No such device is at present available.

Entry Clearances

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  from which countries the Government does not require its nationals to hold a visa to enter the United Kingdom;
	(2)  what percentage of foreign nationals who entered the United Kingdom in each of the last five years did not require a visa to enter.

Liam Byrne: European economic area (EEA) nationals are entitled to free movement and do not require leave to enter the United Kingdom.
	There are two groups subject to immigration control known as visa nationals and non-visa nationals. A visa national needs entry clearance (a visa) to enter the UK in any circumstances. A non-visa national can come to the UK for less than six months as a visitor without a visa, subject to a number of exclusions such as marriage, study or medical treatment, but does need entry clearance to come to the UK for more than six months.
	At present, nationals of over 100 countries or territorial entities are visa nationals. The countries are set out in attached table, Appendix 1 to the immigration rules. The nationals of all other countries outside the EEA are non-visa nationals. The UK global visa regime is currently being reviewed as part of the visa waiver test. This is an assessment against a series of benchmarks, by which we will consider whether a visa regime should be maintained, lifted or imposed. The results of the test will be announced in due course.
	Data for the number of non-visa nationals and non-EEA nationals who entered the UK are available from 2004 to 2006; this is provided in the following table. Data are not available for earlier years. Statistics on non-EEA nationals entering the United Kingdom are published by reason for entry and main country of nationality in the yearly Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom". This publication may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		
			  Passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom, excluding EEA( 1)  and Swiss nationals, 2004-06: United Kingdom 
			 Number of journeys 
			   2004( 1)  2005  2006( 2,)( )( 3) 
			 Total admitted(4) 12,000,000 11,800,000 12,900,000 
			  Of which:
			 Non-visa nationals not requiring a visa (Percentage)(5,6) 69 67 67 
			 (1) Includes nationals of Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia before 1 May 2004, but excludes them from this date. (2) Due to some gaps in the data from ports, estimates have been used. (3) Provisional data subject to change. (4) Data rounded to 3 significant digits and relate to the number of journeys made: a person who enters more than once is counted separately on each occasion. (5) Includes visitors, business visitors, contract seamen, passengers in transit and passengers returning after a temporary absence abroad. (6) Excludes a few non-visa nationals (less than 1 per cent.) where it is not possible to determine from administrative data whether prior entry clearance was required.

Entry Clearances

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will make a substantive decision on the case of applicant N214395 and N1102544 (CTS Ref M13830/7) submitted by the hon. Member for Thurrock on 25 July 2007.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 June 2008
	I have been advised that the United Kingdom Border Agency has now allocated the file to a caseworker in the Family Casework Team in Beckett House and the case will be dealt with as soon as possible.

Entry Clearances

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons N. Lynn of the UK Immigration Service was unaware of the outstanding application submitted on 25th July 2007 by the hon. Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) on behalf of applicant case reference N214395 and N1102544 (CTS Ref M13830/7) prior to the Border and Immigration Agency's attempt to detain the applicant; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 June 2008
	I am not aware of any outstanding application submitted on the 25 July 2007 but if my hon. Friend would care to provide my office with fuller details, I will ask my officials to investigate.

Entry Clearances: Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2007,  Official Report, column 453W, on entry clearances: employment, what the 10 highest number of nationalities in each of the 20 occupations listed in the answer were in each year.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is available from the publication described as follows.
	Work Permit information is published in the 'Foreign labour in the United Kingdom: current patterns and trends' report authored by John Salt and Jane Millar from the 'Migration Research Unit, University College London' and is available at the following website link:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/labour_market_trends/foreign_labour.pdf
	A copy will be placed in the House Library.

Entry Clearances: Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2007,  Official Report, column 453W, on entry clearances: employment, how many work permit migrants who applied for a variation of leave to switch employer were  (a) refused and  (b) granted their application in each year since 1997; and if she will give a breakdown of grants of variation in 2004 and 2005 for the 20 occupations listed in the Answer.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Work permit switching applications 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2007—application type is "In Country—Change of Employment" 
			   Application result 
			   Approved  Refused 
			 1997 2,605 175 
			 1998 3,365 150 
			 1999 3,940 205 
			 2000 6,525 140 
			 2001 12,325 255 
			 2002 17,885 875 
			 2003 19,375 1,085 
			 2004 20,525 1,270 
			 2005 18,515 1,550 
			 2006 17,170 1,460 
			 2007 14,755 2,445 
		
	
	
		
			  Work permit switching applications approved 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2005—application type is "In-Country—Change of Employment"—Includes members of groups 
			  Occupation  2004  2005 
			 Analyst Programmer 215 135 
			 Chef 1,220 1,105 
			 Dancer (Other) 10 10 
			 Doctor 615 535 
			 Kitchen Assistant—SBS 10 5 
			 Manager (Entertainment Related) 5 5 
			 Musician 20 30 
			 Nurse 8,480 7,480 
			 Other Hotel/Catering Occupation 160 200 
			 Other IT Related Occupation 745 710 
			 Other Manager Related Occupation 1,035 1,180 
			 Other Engineer Occupation 375 435 
			 Other Financial Occupation 465 500 
			 Other Health/Medical Occupation 2,005 1,520 
			 Researcher 390 380 
			 Singer 5 15 
			 Software Engineer 325 205 
			 System Analyst 95 55 
			 Teacher (School/College) 960 690 
			 Technician (Music) 0 0 
			 Total 17,130 15,190 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest five. 2. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. 
		
	
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 441W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what fair trade products are  (a) available for purchase at her Department's staff catering facilities and  (b) regularly offered at official departmental meetings and engagements.

Liam Byrne: In the Home Office headquarters building at 2 Marsham Street, Fairtrade products from various sources are available in both coffee shops and the restaurant. These include: coffee; tea; hot chocolate; orange juice; cookies; chocolate bars; flapjacks and similar bars,  (b) Fairtrade teas and coffees are also provided as the default option at all departmental meetings and events where official hospitality is provided.

Firearms: Crime

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many deaths or injuries due to gun crime there have been  (a) in total and  (b) per head in (i) Wales and (ii) England in each year since 1997 for which information is available;
	(2)  how many recorded gun crimes, excluding those involving use of air weapons, have been committed  (a) in total and  (b) per head in (i) Wales and (ii) England in each year since 1997 for which information is available.

Vernon Coaker: Available information relates to the number of firearm offences (excluding air weapons) and resulting in fatal, serious or slight injuries per 100,000 population, from 1997-98 up to and including 2006-07, and is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Firearm offences (excluding air weapon offences) and injuries: per 100,000 population, England and Wales,1997-98 to 2006-07 
			  Period  Region  Number of offences  Offences per 100,000 population  Number of injuries  Injuries per 100,000 population 
			 1997-98 England 4,808 10 797 2 
			  Wales 95 3 7 0 
			   
			 1998-99(1) England 5,109 10 857 2 
			  Wales 100 3 8 0 
			   
			 1999- 2000 England 6,749 14 1,186 2 
			  Wales 94 3 9 0 
			   
			 2000-01 England 7,361 15 1,346 3 
			  Wales 110 4 36 1 
			   
			 2001-02(2) England 9,918 20 1,855 4 
			  Wales 106 4 24 1 
			   
			 2002-03 England 10,087 19 2,119 4 
			  Wales 161 6 60 2 
			   
			 2003-04 England 10,169 19 2,313 4 
			  Wales 169 6 54 2 
			   
			 2004-05(3) England 10,780 20 3,780 7 
			  Wales 289 10 124 4 
			   
			 2005-06 England 10,855 20 3,727 7 
			  Wales 233 8 95 3 
			   
			 2006-07 England 9,435 18 2,911 5 
			  Wales 215 7 100 3 
			 (1) There was a change in the counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1999. (2) Figures may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard before 1 April 2002. (3) More explicit guidelines for the classification of weapons introduced on  1 April 2004 may have increased the recording of firearm offences, particularly those committed by imitation weapons.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much food waste her Department generated in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office records its total waste arisings as required for the annual Sustainable Development in Government Report, and is working to reduce its total waste arisings. The Department does not record food waste separately.

Foreign Workers: EU Nationals

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many migrant workers from A8 countries have registered under the Workers' Registration scheme since 2004.

Liam Byrne: A cumulative total of 796,000 applicants have applied to register on the Worker Registration scheme between 1 May 2004 and 31 December 2007 of which, 766,000 initial applications were approved.
	The figures quoted are not provided under national statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Foreign Workers: Graduates

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many participants there have been in the international graduate scheme since its inception, broken down by  (a) degree subject and  (b) type of work undertaken.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 May 2008
	Since its introduction on 1 May 2007 until 15 May 2008 some 20,110(1) applicants have been granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom under IGS.
	This figure could be broken down only by degree subject and type of work undertaken through detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost. (The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.)
	(1) Figures are always rounded up to the nearest five in PQ replies.

Homicide: South Yorkshire

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homicides where the method of killing was by sharp instrument have been recorded in South Yorkshire in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Available information, relating to homicides recorded by South Yorkshire police in the years up to and including 2006-07, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Offences currently( 1)  recorded as homicide where apparent method of killing is sharp instrument( 2) : South Yorkshire police force area, 1997 to 2006-07( 3, 4) 
			  Year( 3)  Number of homicides recorded 
			 1997 2 
			 1997-98 2 
			 1998-99 3 
			 1999-2000 4 
			 2000-01 4 
			 2001-02 6 
			 2002-03 7 
			 2003-04 2 
			 2004-05 7 
			 2005-06 6 
			 2006-07 3 
			 (1) As at 12 November 2007; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2 )Includes knives and other sharp instruments. (3 )Offences are shown according to the year in which police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made. (4 )Data for 2007-08 are not yet published.

Human Trafficking: Children

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2008,  Official Report, column 883W, on human trafficking: children, when she expects the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre study will be published; and what the reason is for the time taken to publish it.

Vernon Coaker: The report is still in draft form. When it is finalised a summary of the report will be published and a copy placed in the Library in due course.

Illegal Immigrants

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants were involuntarily removed from the UK in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 February 2008
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed, including voluntary departures, from the UK on an annual basis in the Control of Immigration: Statistics Command Paper. This latest publication covers 1996 to 2006 statistics and is published in table 6.1 Persons removed from the United Kingdom and those subject to enforcement action. Final 2007 statistics will be published in the command paper this summer but provisional 2007 figures are available in the most recent quarterly web-based asylum statistics bulletin in table 8b: Persons removed from the United Kingdom.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate web site at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration raids have been carried out in  (a) the UK and  (b) Yorkshire and Humberside since the launch of the Stop Illegal Working campaign.

Liam Byrne: From 14 January 2008 to 31 March a total of 1,943 illegal working operations were carried out in the UK, 136 of these were carried out in Yorkshire and Humberside.
	This information is derived from provisional local management information which may be subject to change.

Illegal Immigrants: Restaurants

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2008,  Official Report, column 340W, on illegal immigrants: restaurants, for what reasons information on the number of people found to be working illegally in the restaurant industry in 2007 and each month in 2008 is not published.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of people found to be working illegally in the restaurant industry is not published because it is only captured on internal management information systems. The data held do not constitute part of national statistics as they are based on management information which may be subject to change.
	In 2007 over 6,000 illegal working operations were carried out and over 5,000 suspected immigration offenders were arrested as a result.

Immigrants: Employment

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what employment restrictions the spouses and partners of self-employed A2 nationals are subject to in the UK.

Liam Byrne: Spouses and partners (by which is meant civil partners) of self-employed A2 nationals are not subject to any employment restrictions in the UK.

Immigration Controls

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors were taken into account in the Government's proposed amendments to the resident labour market test by selecting  (a) a two-week period for advertising jobs with earnings below 40,000,  (b) a one-week period for jobs with earnings above 40,000 and  (c) 40,000 as a threshold; and what research she (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated on these proposals.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The resident Labour market test (RLMT) under the points based system will help to ensure that we continue to protect the privileged position held by British workers in the job market.
	Details of how the RLMT will operate were set out in the recently published statement of intent on skilled workers under the points-based system. This statement of intent was accompanied by a detailed impact assessment, both the statement of intent and the impact assessment are available on the UK Border Agency website and in the Libraries of both Houses.

Immigration Controls: Working Holidays

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedure those holding working holiday visas are expected to follow if they wish to retain their employment under the points-based system; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Switching into the points-based system (PBS) in the UK will be possible only from employment or student categories. The Working Holidaymaker (WHM) Scheme is neither. This general approach was first outlined in the March 2006 Command Paper A Points Based System: Making Migration Work for Britain, and the December 2007 publication Highly Skilled Migrants under the Points Based System - Statement of Intent specifically explained that those with WHM leave will not be able to switch into any highly skilled sub-category. Copies of both documents are available in the House Library. If a WHM wishes to apply for PBS tier 1 (general) they are expected to go home to make their application. Once PBS tier 2 is launched, the same process will apply. Currently WHMs can switch to work permit leave if the job they are doing falls into a shortage occupation and they have been in the UK for 12 months; or to the innovator category.

Immigration: Children

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a race impact study on the detention of children who are British citizens with accompanying parents  (a) has been carried out and  (b) is proposed.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 June 2008
	 The UK Border Agency does not detain children who are British citizens.

Immigration: Detention Centres

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the immigration detention estate reached full capacity in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The immigration detention estate is comprised of dedicated male, female and family accommodation. For reasons of operational contingency planning, the population is maintained at just below full capacity, and therefore that point has not been reached in the last five years. Within those constraints, however, the estate is managed in order to make the best possible use of the available beds.

Immigration: Gurkhas

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) letters and  (b) representations her Department has received from (i) hon. and right hon. Members and Peers, (ii) members of the public and (iii) ex-servicemen's charities and other groups on residency and citizenship rights of Gurkhas in the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: The subject matter of correspondence and of representations received by the UK Border Agency is not recorded in a way which enables this information to be extracted.

Members: Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Director-General of the Border Agency will reply to the hon. Member for Warley's letter of 18 March 2008 regarding Mr Waseem Khan.

Liam Byrne: I replied to the right hon. Member on 1 May 2008.

Members: Correspondence

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to respond to the letter of 29 April from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley on Eugene Sands.

Liam Byrne: The Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency, Lin Homer, wrote to the hon. Member on 30 May 2008.

Missing Persons: Cleveland

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports of missing people were made to Cleveland Police in 2007, broken down by local authority area; how many of them related to  (a) vulnerable adults,  (b) children under the age of 12 years,  (c) children aged 12 to 16 years old and  (d) young people aged 17 to 18 years old; and how many of the reports of a missing person under the age of 18 years old related to a child or young person (i) in the care of a local authority, (ii) with a learning disability and (iii) with a physical disability.

Tony McNulty: This is a matter for Cleveland police. Statistics on the number and age of individuals who are reported missing from home are not currently collected centrally.
	One of the priorities for the Missing Persons Bureau is the development of a national picture of missing persons, including the relevant statistical information. The National Policing Improvement Agency is working with key stakeholders, including Missing People and the Missing Persons Strategic Oversight Group, to take this work forward.

Offenders: Deportation

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign criminals were deported in 2007; and how many of these had convictions for offences related to trafficking, broken down by nationality.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 22 M a y 2008
	The chief executive of the UK Border Agency advised the Home Affairs Committee during her appearance of 15 January that over 4,200 foreign national prisoners were removed or deported in 2007. The information requested on whether these individuals had received convictions for trafficking related offences can only be obtained through the cross referencing of individual casefiles with police national computer records at disproportionate cost.

Overseas Visitors

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of family visitors to the UK who overstayed their visas in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: Since the phasing out of embarkation controls in 1994, no Government have ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case. Information on the number of family visitors to the United Kingdom who overstayed their visa could only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	As one of the Government's ten substantive changes to the border and immigration system in 2008 we will count in and out the majority of foreign nationals. This will build on the successes of our early testing of the e-Borders programme (Project Semaphore) which already covers over 30 million passenger movements and has led to 18,000 alerts and more than 1,500 arrests.
	This is part of a sweeping programme of border protection which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, compulsory watch-list checks for all travellers from high-risk countries before they land in Britain and ID cards for foreign nationals.

Passports: Applications

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people have been interviewed in each of the operational passport interview centres since they opened;
	(2)  what the monthly operational cost is for each of the passport interview centres currently in use.

Meg Hillier: Over the past nine months, the Identity and Passport Service has been building, commissioning and progressively putting into live operation a network of 68 interview offices to establish the identity of first time adult passport applicants and reduce the level of fraudulent applications. The first offices were opened in June 2007, the 66th office was opened in January 2008 and the final office will be open in May. During the commissioning of new systems, people and offices, the volume of interviews has been constrained through selection by postcode and it is only next month that the network will be starting to operate at close to full capacity. The total number of people interviewed in these offices to end of March 2008 was 87,765 (including people who were involved in the live trial). In the financial year 2008-09, IPS expects to conduct a further 404,000 interviews, an average of 33,700 per month.
	The monthly cost of operating the interview office network, including office rental, security, IT systems, administrative overheads and staff is estimated at 2.50 million. This excludes the cost of depreciation of relevant capital expenditure. This means the average cost, excluding depreciation, will be about 74 per interview. Once the interview network is complete and operating at full capacity, I would be in a position to provide detail on number of customers interviewed and cost per interview for each office. These will vary considerably from office to office reflecting both size and location. These costs are spread across all passport customers rather than being recovered solely from first time adult applicants, and there is no plan to charge higher fees to customers of smaller offices where the unit cost is higher. The aforementioned unit cost spread across all passport applicants amounts to about 12.50 per person and this is a component of the current overall adult passport fee of 72.

UK Border Agency: Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency will reply to the letter sent by the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Clare Short), on 8th April 2008, on behalf of Mamta Devi (Home Office reference number D1104208).

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency (formerly the Border and Immigration Agency) wrote to my right hon. Friend on 9 May 2008.

UK Border Agency: Liverpool

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the UK Border Agency's Liverpool casework unit.

Liam Byrne: There are a number of teams operating within Liverpool that fall under various different business areas that form part of the UK Border Agency. These include local enforcement offices, criminal casework, asylum, managed migration and nationality. No assessment has been conducted that treats all teams based within Liverpool as one area of the agency. The UK Border Agency regularly publishes information on its performance on its website as well as through updates to the Home Affairs Select Committee.

UK Visas: Telephone Services

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will  (a) place in the Library and  (b) send to all hon. Members a full list of telephone, fax and e-mail addresses of desk officers in UK Visas and of telephone numbers in UK Visas where a voicemail facility is available.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 June 2008
	UKBA's Visa Services Directorate already has a special hotline telephone number and email inbox for MPs inquiries:
	Hotline number: 0207 008 8463
	Email address: mpvisaenquiries@fco.gov.uk
	In addition, documents may be faxed to 0207 008 8359/8313.
	Although in practice many MPs are in regular contact with individual geographical desks, having special points of contact for MPs allows their inquiries to be prioritised and a means they receive a better service.

UK Visas: Telephone Services

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the hours of operation of the MP's UK Visas Hotline are; how many staff are employed answering the hotline; how many and what proportion of calls to the hotline were answered in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if she will make arrangements for an answering machine or voicemail facility to be installed on the hotline.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The MPs Hotline to UKBA's Visa Services Directorate (formerly UKvisas) operates between 9.30 am and 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday. One member of staff is employed to answer the calls. There is already a voicemail facility on the hotline and all calls are answered within 24 hours. 640 calls have been received since 1 January 2008, all of which have been answered.

Work Permits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-UK citizens obtained leave to enter the UK as a work permit holder on the basis of an intra-company transfer in each year since 1997; and people of which 20 nationalities obtained leave to enter the most times in this way in each such year.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The information requested cannot be obtained from entry clearance records.

Work Permits: Occupations

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the 20 most frequent occupations were of approved work permit applications in each of the last 20 years.

Liam Byrne: The following list shows the 20 most frequent occupations of approved work permit applications in each year since 2000. Data for periods prior to 2000 are not available.
	 Top 20 occupations of work permit applications approved (1 January to 31 December each year)
	 2000
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Other IT-related occupations
	Other financial occupations
	Other engineer occupations
	System analyst
	Other health/medical occupations
	Researcher
	Software engineer
	Accountant
	Teacher (school/college)
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Other hotel catering occupations
	Computer programmer
	Fashion (model)
	Marketing/sales manager
	Musician
	General manager
	Lecturer (university)
	Medical practitioner
	 2001
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Other it related occupations
	Teacher (school/college)
	Software engineer
	Other engineer occupations
	System analyst
	Other financial occupations
	Researcher
	Other health/medical occupations
	Analyst programmer
	Accountant
	Chef
	Marketing/sales manager
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Fashion (model)
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Computer programmer
	General manager
	Project manager
	 2002
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Teacher (school/college)
	Other health/medical occupations
	Other it related occupations
	Software engineer
	Chef
	Other engineer occupations
	Researcher
	Analyst programmer
	Other financial occupations
	System analyst
	Doctor
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Accountant
	Marketing/sales manager
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Fashion (model)
	Business analyst
	Project manager
	 2003
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Other health/medical occupations
	Chef
	Other IT-related occupations
	Teacher (school/college)
	Software engineer
	Other engineer occupations
	Researcher
	Other financial occupations
	System analyst
	Doctor
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Analyst programmer
	Accountant
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Second chef
	Kitchen assistant - SBS
	Marketing/sales manager
	Head chef
	 2004
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Other health/medical occupations
	Other it related occupations
	Software engineer
	Chef
	Teacher (school/college)
	Other financial occupations
	Kitchen assistant - SBS
	Doctor
	Researcher
	Other engineer occupations
	Analyst programmer
	System analyst
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Room attendant -SBS
	Meat process operative - SBS
	Cleaner of premises - SBS
	Waiting staff - SBS
	Accountant
	 2005
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Other IT-related occupations
	Other health/medical occupations
	Software engineer
	Other financial occupations
	Chef
	Other engineer occupations
	Teacher (school/college)
	Researcher
	Doctor
	System analyst
	Analyst programmer
	Senior carer
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Accountant
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Meat process operative - SBS
	Food service operative - SBS
	Project manager
	 2006
	Other manager related occupations
	Other it related occupations
	Nurse
	Software engineer
	Other engineer occupations
	Other financial occupations
	Other health/medical occupations
	Chef
	Senior carer
	Researcher
	Teacher (school/college)
	Doctor
	Analyst programmer
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	System analyst
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Project manager
	Accountant
	Mushroom processor - SBS
	Marketing/sales manager
	 2007
	Other IT-related occupations
	Other manager related occupations
	Software engineer
	Other financial occupations
	Nurse
	Other engineer occupations
	Researcher
	Chef
	Teacher (school/college)
	Analyst programmer
	Other health/medical occupations
	System analyst
	Senior carer
	Project manager
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Business analyst
	Marketing/sales manager
	Accountant
	Other legal occupation
	The data are not provided under national statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Workers Registration Scheme: Fees and Charges

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors have been taken into consideration in deciding the level of the registration fee for the Workers' Registration scheme.

Liam Byrne: The fee for the issuance of a work card under the Workers Registration scheme is set in consideration of the administrative costs of the operation of the scheme.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of progress in concluding the outstanding insurance claim against Bedfordshire Police Authority following the incident at Yarl's Wood on 14 February 2002; when she expects to announce a final settlement of the claim; and what estimate she has made of the likely costs of this claim.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office is not directly involved in the claim made against Bedfordshire Police Authority for the fire at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre on 14 February 2002 and we have no line of sight to the case details.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Malaria

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution his Department has made towards United Nations policy objectives on malaria.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government have committed 1 billion over the next seven years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, as well as directly supporting developing countries, research and other international organisations. The UK will also provide 20 million extra bed nets towards achieving the goal of universal bed net coverage by 2010.

Genetically Modified Crops

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the contribution of genetically modified crops to food supplies in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not made a specific assessment of the contribution of genetically modified (GM) crops to food supplies. But there are examples where the use of GM crops is increasing food productionsuch as in the Philippines, where 300,000 hectares of GM maize was planted last year.
	Genetically modified crops will not solve the problem of world hunger on their own. But biotechnology, including GM crops, does have a potentially important contribution to make, providing it is managed responsibly.

Global Plan to Stop TB

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards achieving the target outlined in the Global Plan to Stop TB, 2006-15; and how much of the US$56 billion required to implement the Global Plan has been spent.

Gillian Merron: Prevalence and mortality rates for TB are falling, and just over six out of 10 cases are now detected. Spending is increasing from $2 billion in 2006 to $2.7 billion this year and we will continue to support expenditure against the Global Plan.

Tibet

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to provide humanitarian assistance to the indigenous population of occupied Tibet.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not plan to provide humanitarian assistance in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Together with our colleagues at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we are keeping the situation under review, but there does not at this time appear to be any reason for us to provide such assistance. We continue to provide 500,000 per year to support Save the Children's work in Tibet. This is continuing to run smoothly despite the recent unrest. The work is not considered politically sensitive either by the Chinese authorities or by the Tibetan population, and is welcomed by both.

Palestine

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to support the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan.

Douglas Alexander: A capable, responsive and accountable Palestinian Authority (PA) is essential for a viable Palestinian state. The Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PDRP) sets out the PA's spending plans and reforms to strengthen its capacity and accountability. DFID-funded technical assistance enabled the PA to prepare a credible PRDP that formed the basis for the pledges at the Paris donor conference. The UK pledged up to 243 million over the next three years. In 2008 we have provided 36 million in support of the PRDP, for services such as health and education and for ongoing technical assistance to the PA in taking forward reforms.

Burma

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Burma.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the right hon. Member to my response to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) earlier today (UIN Number 2099945) during International Development oral questions.

Park for Women: Lashkar Gah

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans he has for the funding and operation of the Park for Women in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province in the next 12 months.

Douglas Alexander: The Government of Iraq has responsibility for the funding and operation of the Bolan Park in Lashkar Gah. To that end, the Department for International Development has no plans for further support to the park.

Afghanistan

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of co-operation between his Department and British armed forces in Afghanistan.

Douglas Alexander: Since UK expansion into Helmand province in June 2006, the effectiveness of co-operation between UK armed forces, the Department for International Development (DFID) and other UK civilian departments has been regularly assessed by officials and Ministers from DFID, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
	Co-operation has improved over the last two years, as the UK-led, joint civilian-military provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in Helmand has developed. Military and civilian are located in the PRT, working closely with the local Afghan government, undertaking joint planning, and making joint decisions on funding reconstruction projects. DFID's development advisor in the PRT has helped to ensure that development in Helmand is co-ordinated with the UK military's work and with DFID's nationwide development programmes.
	An example of effective co-operation is the joint planning for the military operation in Musa Qala in December 2007, which resulted in more immediate and effective stabilisation after the military operation had concluded. Discussions are also underway on using military resources to make roads to market more secure, which will support the Department for International Development's (DFID) livelihoods and development programmes in the province.
	The recently agreed Helmand Road Map is an operational guide for UK engagement in Helmand over the next two years and provides the key measures for assessing the future effectiveness of civil/military co-operation.

Maghreb

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support his Department is giving to building capacity for third-sector organisations in the countries of the Maghreb.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have bilateral programmes in the Maghreb countries but provides support through significant multilateral contributions. The UK is contributing about 200 million towards the European Commission's 1.2 billion programme of support for Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco over the period 2007-10 and DFID works closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to encourage the European Commission to engage Civil Society in its policies and programmes.

Belize: Overseas Aid

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid the UK gave to Belize in each year since 2000.

Shahid Malik: Details on UK aid to Belize since 2000 are laid out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: UK total bilateral gross public expenditure (GPEX), 2000-01 to 2006-0 7, Belize 
			   000 
			 2000-01 8,164 
			 2001-02 5,541 
			 2002-03 11,081 
			 2003-04 1,670 
			 2004-05 1,642 
			 2005-06 1,198 
			 2006-07 991 
		
	
	The reduction in GPEX after 2002-03 equates to the last contributions from other official UK sources, principally CDC.
	
		
			  Table 2: Imputed DFID share of multilateral official development assistance (ODA), 2000-01 to 2006-07, Belize 
			   000 
			 2000-01 608 
			 2001-02 589 
			 2002-03 374 
			 2003-04 376 
			 2004-05 475 
			 2005-06 984 
			 2006-07 814

Burma: Storms

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) equipment and  (b) supplies for those in Burma affected by Cyclone Nargis are on board HMS Westminster.

Douglas Alexander: As the closest British ship to the area, the HMS Westminster was initially sent to waters off the coast of Burma. She had on board a helicopter, rigid inflatable boats, water jerry cans and 6,000 litres of bottled water. She was replaced by HMS Edinburgh on 25 May. Both vessels have now returned to normal duties and remain in the region.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department's green transport plan was introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of this plan.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) first introduced its green transport plans in 2000. There are in fact two plans, one for each of our two UK offices. The plans were updated in 2004, and we are currently in the process of updating them again. A copy of the last version has been placed in the Library of the House.

Developing Countries: Food

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government has taken to address food shortages in developing countries.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) is very concerned about food shortages in developing countries. There are already 850 million people who do not have enough to eat and high food prices have the potential to push a further 100 million into hunger. I attended the Rome Food summit and called for all donors, other international organisations, the private sector and civil society to double their efforts to tackle global hunger and food security under an International Partnership for Agriculture and Food.
	The UK Government have announced a 538 million package. This includes both short-term and long-term measures: 400 million for agricultural research over five years; 30 million to the World Food Programme; 22 million for the Ethiopia safety net; 8 million for nutrition monitoring; 38 million for road building in Democratic Republic of Congo, 32 million for social protection in Mozambique and Bangladesh and 6.5 million for food aid and agricultural inputs for Afghanistan. In addition, new commitments for budget support were announced for Ghana, Uganda and Malawi totalling 217 million.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps the Government has taken to reduce the spread of AIDS in developing countries.

Gillian Merron: On 2 June, the UK Government launched their updated AIDS strategy Achieving Universal Access - the UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world. The strategy sets out the UK's response to tackling HIV and AIDS in developing countries to 2015. A copy of the updated strategy and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	The UK will continue to play a leadership role and assist developing countries to reach the goal of universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support and to help achieve millennium development goal 6, to halt and reverse the spread of HIV.

Malawi: Overseas Aid

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what agricultural support his Department is providing to Malawi in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government are providing 20 million over four years to support the Government of Malawi's fertiliser and seed subsidy to increase agricultural food production, support drought insurance and measures to smooth domestic maize prices and mitigate the vulnerability risk.
	In 2007-08 the UK Government also provided 22 million of Poverty Reduction Budget Support to the Government of Malawi of which 5 million is estimated to have supported agriculture.
	DFID also provides multilateral assistance to a range of organisations, some of which is used on agricultural activities. For example, DFID has provided over 90 million in support to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation and International Fund for Agricultural Development over the period 2002-03 to 2006-07.

Somalia: Overseas Aid

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) level and  (b) type of aid and assistance his Department is providing to Somalia in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: In 2006-07, the Department for International Development (DFID) provided 16.6 million for Somalia. 8.0 million was for humanitarian assistance to the worst-affected areas and 8.6 million was allocated for development assistance. DFID's development programme focuses on health, education, livelihoods, security and governance.
	DFID also provides core funding to multilateral organisations such as the World Bank, the European Commission, and United Nations organisations, some of which contributes to multilateral spending in Somalia. Total multilateral spending in Somalia in 2005 was 49,608,000 of which around 5.1 million was from DFID. See table 18
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/sid2007/tables-index.asp.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the issue of the outstanding International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Ahmed Harun was addressed at the most recent pledging session of the Sudan Consortium in Oslo.

Douglas Alexander: The International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Ahmed Harun was not discussed at the Sudan Consortium meeting in Oslo.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the aid committed by the UK at the recent pledging session of the Sudan consortium in Oslo is to be delivered via the Sudanese Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

Douglas Alexander: None.

Television

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on  (a) commissioning and  (b) funding the production of television programmes (i) in each of the last three years and (ii) in 2008-09 to date; what programmes these were; and which companies made them.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not directly commission television programmes.
	Through the DFID/Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Broadcast media scheme, DFID awards grants (up to 10,000 maximum) for travel bursaries and development costs in order to enable producers to develop taster tapes and research programme concepts that focus on the developing world.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Cromwell Green Entrance

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the average temperature was in the visitor reception building on each day since its opening; what monitoring of the air temperature the Commission undertakes; what discussions the Commission has had with representatives of staff required to work in the visitor reception building about the air temperature; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Temperatures are monitored hourly but have not been retained for the full period since the building opened. Between 2 and 5 June the temperature did not exceed 22.4C. Security staff in the building are supplied to the Houses by the Metropolitan police with whom the Serjeant at Arms is in regular discussion on this and other operational matters.
	The cooling system of the building is not yet operating at full capacity. Staff found the working environment uncomfortable during a hot spell in May. Extra cooling will be installed if the central system does not prove adequate.

Cromwell Green Entrance

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the expected cost of the  (a) design and  (b) construction of the air conditioning system in the visitor reception building was (i) at the commencement of building, (ii) on 1 January 2006, (iii) on 1 January 2007 and (iv) on 1 November 2007; what the final cost has been; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The cost of the air conditioning system cannot be separately identified. For the overall cost of the project, I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 7 February 2008,  Official Report column 1120.

Members: Home Addresses

Andrew MacKay: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2008,  Official Report, column 807W, on Members: correspondence, if he will arrange for screening services similar to those provided at the House to be made available at hon. Members' home addresses.

Nick Harvey: Screening of mail at hon. Members' home addresses would involve practical difficulties and incur significant extra cost. Hon. Members wishing to have mail addressed to their homes screened would have to arrange for it to be redirected to the House.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many city academies he plans to establish in each of the next five years.

Jim Knight: There will be 50 new academies opening in the academic year 2008/09, with a further 55 opening in each of the following years to 2010/11. This will bring the total number of academies open by 2010 to 243, exceeding our target of 200 open or in the pipeline by this date. The numbers of academies opening in subsequent years will be subject to decisions on future spending reviews.

Academies

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with which local authorities his Department is in discussions on the establishment of city academies and trust schools.

Jim Knight: The Department for Children, Schools and Families holds regular discussions with all local authorities as part of its ongoing drive to raise standards in schools. The potential for academies and trusts routinely forms part of these discussions.

Academies

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the role of academies in  (a) his Department's and  (b) local authority strategies for education for the 14 to 19 age group.

Jim Knight: Academy funding agreements require academies to ensure that their pupils in the 14-19 age group have access to the same curriculum entitlements as their peers in maintained schools. This means that academy pupils will have equal access to diplomas.
	We expect academies to participate in the delivery of diplomas in the same way as other providers. We know that 18 (of 47 then open) academies were in consortia approved for the delivery of one or more of the five diplomas in the first phase, from September 2008 and that 58 (of 83 open) academies are partners in consortia that have been approved for the delivery of one or more of the 10 diplomas to be available from September 2009 (14 of which are also partners in the consortia approved for delivery of diplomas from September 2008).
	In terms of 14-19 place commissioning, academies, like other providers, will represent their interests and contribute expertise through local 14-19 partnerships. Academies will participate fully in this process. Academies will receive their funding directly from the DCSF in line with the agreed local commissioning plan.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Essex

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  on what date rebuilding or refurbishment work under the Building Schools for the Future programme was  (a) undertaken and  (b) planned to be undertaken on the first secondary school in (i) Colchester constituency and (ii) Essex Education Authority area; and when he expects the last school in (A) Colchester constituency and (B) Essex Education Authority area to have works carried out;
	(2)  which secondary schools in  (a) Colchester constituency and  (b) Essex Education Authority area have had rebuilding and refurbishment work carried out under the Building Schools for the Future programme; and how much the works have cost in each case;
	(3)  how much has been spent in  (a) Colchester constituency,  (b) Essex Education Authority area and  (c) England under the Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many secondary schools in  (a) Colchester constituency,  (b) Essex Education Authority area and  (c) England have been rebuilt and refurbished under the Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: No schools in Essex have yet received funding to be rebuilt or refurbished under Building Schools for the Future (BSF).
	Essex has four projects in BSF comprising schools in the south, west, north and centre of the county. The first project, for schools in south Essex, is in wave 4 of the programme. Construction work on the first school is currently expected to start in May 2010 and to be completed early in 2011, subject to the approval of an outline business case by September 2008. The date when work on the last school in Essex will be completed under BSF will not be known for some time and is dependent on a range of factors, including future public spending decisions, the current consultation on the management of waves 7-15 of BSF, and local decisions about prioritisation and phasing of school projects.
	Secondary schools in the north of Essex, including Colchester, were originally prioritised in waves 13-15 of BSF. We would expect schools in wave 13 to receive BSF funding from 2017-18 and those in wave 15 two years later (subject to future public spending decisions), with schools in wave 13 to likely to be completed from 2020. However, the current consultation on managing waves 7-15 of BSF may affect when schools in Colchester receive BSF investment and consequently when they are rebuilt or refurbished.
	To date, 13 schools in England have been rebuilt or refurbished under BSF. The BSF projects that have already signed contracts are worth around 2.5 billion. Taking into account future investment in subsequent phases of these BSF projects, this figure increases to 3.9 billion.

Children

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) one to three year olds and  (b) three to five-year-olds in England in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Population projections are the responsibility of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the following table is based on their latest projection:
	
		
			  Population in England at mid-year by age at last birthday 
			  Thousand 
			   Age 1-3  Age  3-5 
			 2009 1,924 1,826 
			 2010 1,967 1,881 
			 2011 1,987 1,928 
			 2012 2,012 1,970 
			 2013 2,029 1,991 
			  Source:  ONS mid 2006 based principal population projection.

Class Sizes: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the pupil-teacher ratio was in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in the borough of Bexley in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: Latest information from the School Census is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Pupil: t eacher ratios in local authority maintained schools. Year: January 2007. Coverage: Bexley LA, London region and England 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools 
			 Bexley LA 22.7 17.8 
			 London region 21.9 16.1 
			 England 21.8 16.5 
			  Source: School Census 
		
	
	This information is taken from table 25 of the SFR: School Workforce in England (including pupil: teacher ratios and pupil: adult ratios), January 2007 (Revised), published in September 2007 and accessible through the following link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000743/index.shtml.

Class Sizes: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average  (a) pupil-teacher and  (b) pupil-adult ratio for key stage 3 was in secondary schools in (i) Leeds Metropolitan District and (ii) Leeds West constituency in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Secondary within school pupil teacher ratios in local authority maintained schools are readily available. Figures for Leeds local authority, Leeds West constituency and England for each year from 1997 to 2007 are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Secondary within school pupil teacher ratios( 1)  in local authority maintained schools: year1997 to 2007: coverageLeeds LA Leeds West constituency and England 
			   Leeds local authority  Leeds West constituency  England 
			 1997 16.9 16.6 16.7 
			 1998 16.8 17.3 16.9 
			 1999 16.9 17.0 17.0 
			 2000 17.0 17.8 17.2 
			 2001 16.8 17.2 17.1 
			 2002 16.3 16.3 16.9 
			 2003 16.6 16.9 17.0 
			 2004 16.5 17.5 17.0 
			 2005 16.1 16.6 16.7 
			 2006 16.1 16.5 16.6 
			 2007 16.4 16.2 16.5 
			 (1) The within school PTR is calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on role in schools by the total FTE number if qualified teachers regularly employed in schools.  Source: School Census

Class Sizes: Wirral

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the pupil-teacher ratio was in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in Wirral West constituency in January 1997.

Jim Knight: In January 2007, the within school pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in Wirral West constituency were 22.6 and 14.9 respectively. The equivalent figures for England were 21.8 and 16.5.
	Within school PTRs are calculated by dividing the total full-time equivalent (FTE) number of pupils on role by the total FTE number of qualified teachers regularly employed. The source of this information is the school census.

Education: Assessments

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on targets and league tables for school results for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 and GCSEs.

Jim Knight: The Children, Schools and Families Select Committee's Report on Testing and Assessment published on 13 May included a number of statements on the impact of performance targets and achievement and attainment tables on the education system. We will respond in full to the Select Committee's report in due course. In addition, the Department receives correspondence from schools and other bodies from time to time on these and related issues.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department informed the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority of Educational Testing Service's intention to end borderline checking of markers' standardisation test results before the award of the contract to administer Key Stage tests for 2008 to 2012.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the development and administration of national curriculum tests. In December 2004, the QCA notified the Secretary of State of their intention to remove the borderlining check from the marking process for tests at key stages 2 and 3 when better measures were in place to ensure the reliability and validity of marking. In January 2005, the Secretary of State confirmed her agreement. The exchange of letters can be viewed on the QCA's website at:
	www.qca.org.uk/qca_8923.asp
	and
	www.qca.org.uk/qca_8835.aspx
	The procurement requirements, subsequently published by the QCA, did not include specific marking quality assurance requirements, but instead invited tenderers to propose better quality measures for marking. ETS Europe did not play any part in the decision to replace the borderlining check.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he was informed about problems with educational testing service and key stage tests.

Jim Knight: The administration of national curriculum tests, as part of the process for maintaining standards, is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. As usual during the test delivery period, we are in regular contact with the National Assessment Agency, which administers the tests on the QCA's behalf. Ministers take a close interest in the progress of test delivery.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what evaluation criteria are applied to those organisations tendering for contracts to administer Key Stage tests; and what assessment his Department had of the extent to which Educational Testing Service met these criteria.

Jim Knight: The procurement and award of contracts for national curriculum assessment delivery is the responsibility of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). They carry out this function independently of Government. I am satisfied that the QCA carried out their responsibilities in relation to the contract for test delivery services with all due diligence. I have asked David Gee, Managing Director of the National Assessment Agency, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee, dated 9 June 2008:
	I have been asked to write to you in response to your parliamentary question about the evaluation criteria used in assessing tenders for the national curriculum tests delivery contract.
	The evaluation criteria were included in the Invitation to Tender (Section 8), an extract of which is below:
	 Service Delivery
	The supplier's ability to deliver the services to time and quality;
	The agreed level of quality and security to which the Service will be delivered (including ensuring quality of marking);
	The supplier's capabilities and operation of a programme management, governance regime and relationship management approach;
	 Efficiency, Impact and Value
	Assessment of the impact of burden on schools of implementing the identified solution;
	The supplier's proposals for innovative delivery of the Service;
	The supplier's proposals for delivering efficiency and ongoing cost reduction; and
	Costs (suppliers should note that costs submitted will be evaluated on a line-by-line basis in the response to the pricing model).
	 Risk and Issue Management
	Ability to identify, assume and manage risk (including an outline of the steps the supplier will take to mitigate risk), attitude to risk faking, confidence in managing risk and ability to minimise the commercial impact of risk.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department has contingency plans in place to re-mark this year's Key Stage 3 tests.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority estimates that all the tests will be marked to the expected standard and results returned to schools by 8 July, as published in the 2008 Assessment and Reporting Arrangement booklets. As in previous years, schools will have an opportunity to request a review of the marking of any pupil's scripts about which they have concerns on the application of the mark scheme. This year, the reviews process will operate in a similar fashion to previous years.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many of those who applied to mark Key Stage 3 examinations failed the markers' standardisation test in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Jim Knight: The administration of national curriculum tests, as part of the process for maintaining standards, is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) administers the tests on their behalf. I have therefore asked David Gee, Managing Director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee, dated 9 June 2008:
	I have been asked to write to you in response to your parliamentary question about the standardisation process for markers of national curriculum tests for key stage 3.
	The standardisation quality check has changed in purpose and application from 2007 to 2008. The failure rates quoted below are therefore not comparable.
	In 2007, 72 markers out of 9,816 failed the standardisation check. That check was designed to test a marker's consistency in applying the mark scheme and, alongside a sample of live marking, was evaluated by a marking supervisor. The evaluation of the live sample was subject to the variation of individual judgement. These quality measures constituted a major part of the marking quality control process and took place early in the marking period.
	In 2008, 81 out of 9,991 failed standardisation. The check this year is designed to test a marker's consistency in applying the mark scheme and to identify where support is needed to improve consistent application of the mark scheme. Markers receive feedback and mentoring support from their supervisors, as necessary, throughout the marking period. In addition this year every marker is subject to similar checks, against a national standard, at regular intervals throughout the marking period.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department's observer raised any concern over the procurement procedure for selecting the company to administer Key Stage tests for 2008 to 2012.

Jim Knight: No. The selection of ETS Europe to be the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's delivery partner for national curriculum assessment was conducted in accordance with the guidance of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) on the procurement of public sector contracts, and successfully passed the scrutiny of the OGC.

Education: Assessments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many Standard Assessment Test papers have not been marked as a result of the delayed delivery by ETS Europe;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the delay in delivering Standard Assessment Tests by ETS Europe to markers on students who are waiting for results.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is responsible for national curriculum test delivery. They estimate that all test papers will be marked in time for the results to be sent to schools by 8 July, as published in the 2008 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements booklets.

Education: Assessments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it his policy to compensate markers who have experienced delays in receiving SAT papers and consequently not received payment for work.

Jim Knight: The administration of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) administers the tests on their behalf. I have therefore asked David Gee, Managing Director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee, dated 11 June 2008:
	I have been asked to write to you in response to your parliamentary question about payments to markers of national curriculum tests.
	As part of the contract for delivering national curriculum tests for key stages 2 and 3, the test operations agency, ETS Europe, is required to arrange for the accurate marking of all test papers. ETS Europe is meeting this requirement by directly contracting individuals to undertake marking work. The contract of employment, which is subject to UK law, is a private matter between individual markers and their employer. As such, any issues relating to the contract of employment, such as compensatory payments, are private matters and not matters of Government policy.

Education: Per Capita Costs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much expenditure from the public purse has been allocated per child in education in Warrington in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The revenue funding figures per pupil for years 1997-98 to 2005-06, for Warrington local authority in real terms are as follows:
	
		
			   Revenue funding figures per pupil () 
			 1997-98 2,820 
			 1998-99 2,870 
			 1999-2000 2,980 
			 2000-01 3,190 
			 2001-02 3,340 
			 2002-03 3,430 
			 2003-04 3,530 
			 2004-05 3,640 
			 2005-06 3,840 
		
	
	The revenue per pupil figures shown in the following table are taken from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with the 1997-98 to 2005-06 figures quoted in the aforementioned table because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded.
	The 1997-98 to 2005-06 figures quoted in the aforementioned table are based on Education Formula Spending (EPS) which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. The DSG is based on planned spend. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EFS, which comprises a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's Local Government Finance Settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the Department have isolated the schools block equivalent funding in 2005-06this is the basis for the 2005-06 baseline figure quoted as follows; as described this does not represent the totality of 'education' funding in that year. The figures are for all funded pupils aged three to 19 and are in real terms.
	The per pupil revenue funding figures for years 2005-06 to 2007-08 for Warrington local authority are provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Warrington LA 
			 200506 DSG plus grants (baseline) 3,780 
			 2006-07 DSG plus grants 3,880 
			 2007-08 DSG plus grants 4,040 
			  Note:  Price base: real terms at 2006-07 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 26 September 2007.

Educational Testing Service

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what due diligence was carried out by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority regarding the commercial record and reputation of the company Educational Testing Service before the 2007 contract for standard assessment tests was agreed;
	(2)  what due diligence was carried out by his Department in checking the commercial record and reputation of the company Educational Testing Service before the 2007 contract for Key Stage testing was awarded.

Jim Knight: The procurement and award of contracts for national curriculum assessment delivery services is the responsibility of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). They carry out this function independently of Government.
	I am satisfied that they have carried out their responsibilities in relation to the contract with ETS Europe with all due diligence. The QCA Board, on which my Department has an observer, received the report on the conduct of the procurement for this contract which has successfully passed Office for Government Commerce (OGC) scrutiny. I have asked David Gee, managing director of the National Assessment Agency, to write to the hon. Member setting out the checks that were made. A copy will be placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee, dated 9 June 2008:
	I have been asked to write to you in response to your parliamentary questions about the due diligence carried out by the QCA prior to the Board's decision to select ETS Europe as our delivery partner for national curriculum assessment.
	An independent expert consultancy conducted a complete and thorough financial due diligence exercise on Education Testing Services. Their recommendation was that ETS was in a fit and proper financial state to be awarded the contract.
	All tenderers were required to identify referees. These referees were approached independently for an in-depth interview covering key aspects of the tenderer's record of delivery and reputation. The QCA's examination of ETS's referees gave us full confidence in appointing ETS as our delivery partner for national curriculum assessment services.

Educational Testing Service

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions he had with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on Educational Testing Service's contract prior to 19 May.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) kept the Department fully informed about its programme of procurement for services in respect of the delivery of national curriculum assessments. In securing key services, the QCA takes account of the Department's policy objectives. As usual with a major procurement exercise, officials from the Department observed the process at key points. The QCA is responsible for the development and delivery of national curriculum assessment. Its Board took the decision to award the test operations contract to ETS Europe in December 2006.

Educational Testing Service

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions his officials have had with the Educational Testing Service on 2008 Key Stage tests.

Jim Knight: The administration of national curriculum tests, as part of the process for maintaining standards, is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) manages the delivery contract with ETS Europe on the QCA's behalf. The Department's officials are involved in meetings with the QCA, NAA and with ETS Europe, but they do not have direct dealings with the QCA's contractors.

Further Education: Admissions

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children who are under 16 will be entering post-16 education in September.

Jim Knight: Information on the number of children aged under 16 who will enter post-16 education in September 2008 is not available.
	The number of pupils aged 11 to 15 in all secondary schools in England who were following a post-16 National Curriculum year as at January 2008 is shown in the table:
	
		
			  State funded secondary schools( 1) : Number of pupils aged 11 to 15 who are following a post-16 national curriculum year( 2, 3)  as at January 2008 (provisional) 
			   Number of pupils aged 11 to 15 following a post-16 National Curriculum year: 
			 Number of pupils 1,140 
			 Percentage of the school population(4) 0.04 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. Includes CTCs and academies. (2) Relates to pupils following National Curriculum years 12, 13 and 14. (3) Age at 31 August 2007. (4) The number of pupils following post-16 National Curriculum year groups expressed as a percentage of all pupils aged 11 to 15.  Source: School Census

Further Education: Finance

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate funding is available for mergers in the further education sector.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	As the statutory planning and funding body for further education, it is for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to consider how it uses the funds it receives in line with stated priorities. There is no specific fund to support mergers. However, the LSC may decide to support the development of proposals in a number of ways, for example, by paying for a strategic options study to look at how provision might best be configured in an area. We are currently reviewing the organisational structure framework within which mergers and other organisational models are considered. This will include a stronger focus on the need to protect and enhance learner choice in an area, value for money and a robust process for appraising all proposals. We are keen to ensure that all options have been considered before mergers, as there is no evidence to suggest that larger colleges provide a better quality experience for the learner.

Literacy

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on international comparisons of functional illiteracy levels.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State has commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research to supply data on the performance of fifteen-year-olds in schools in England for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's programme for international student assessment (PISA 2006).
	In PISA the term literacy is defined as the extent to which students have acquired the ability to put their knowledge to functional use in different situations in adult life. It assesses students' knowledge on a three-year cycle, with each cycle focusing mainly on one of three areas: reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy. Scientific literacy was the main focus of PISA 2006, with mathematical and reading literacy as the two minor domains.
	For reading literacy, 6,8 per cent. of English students scored below PISA level 1, which was slightly less than the OECD average of 7.4 per cent.
	For scientific literacy, 4.9 per cent. of English students scored below PISA level 1, compared with an OECD average of 5.2 per cent. and for mathematical literacy, 6.0 per cent. of students scored below PISA level 1, which was slightly less than the OECD average of 7.7 per cent.

Pre-School Education: Pilot Schemes

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department plans to spend on pilot schemes extending the early years entitlement to two year olds in each of the next three years; how many two year olds will be able to take part in such schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Building on the success of the existing pilots in 32 local authorities the Government will invest 100 million over the next three years to offer up to 15 hours free early education and child care to the most deprived two-year-olds living in 63 pilot local authorities. We will invest 20 million in this year, 30 million in 2009/10 and 50 million in 2010/11. We anticipate that in excess of 20,000 two-year olds will benefit from the pilot over the next three years.

Primary Education: Class Sizes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average  (a) pupil-teacher and  (b) pupil-adult ratio was for Key Stage 1 in maintained primary schools in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not available by the different key stages because some teachers may teach more than one key stage. The latest publication containing information on pupil-teacher and pupil-adult ratios is split by primary and secondary schools in the School Workforce in England (including pupil: teacher ratios and pupil: adult ratios), January 2008 (Provisional) (see table 15). This can be found at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000787/index.shtml

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding was provided per pupil in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) Suffolk and (ii) England in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The revenue funding figures per pupil in 2003-04 and 2005-06 in real terms for Suffolk local authority and England are as follows:
	
		
			2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Suffolk Primary (aged 3-10) 3,280 3,400 3,590 
			  Secondary (aged 11-15) 4,070 4,280 4,410 
			  
			 England Primary (aged 3-10) 3,630 3,740 3,960 
			  Secondary (aged 11-15) 4,500 4,690 4,870 
		
	
	The revenue per pupil figures shown in the table below are taken from the dedicated schools grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with 2003-04 and 2005-06 figures quoted above because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded.
	The 2003-04 to 2005-06 figures quoted above are based on education formula spending (EPS) which formed the education part of the local government finance settlement, plus various grants. The DSG is based on planned spend. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EPS, which comprises a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's local government finance settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the Department have isolated the schools block equivalent funding in 2005-06this is the basis for the 2005-06 baseline figure quoted in the table; as described above this does not represent the totality of 'education' funding in that year. As the DSG is just a mechanism for distributing funding a primary/secondary split is not available. The figures are for all funded pupils aged three to 19 and are in real terms.
	The per pupil revenue funding figures for years 2005-06 to 2007-08 for Suffolk local authority and England are provided in the following table:
	
		
			   2005-06 DSG plus grants (baseline)  2006-07 DSG plus grants  2007-08 DSG plus grants 
			 Suffolk 3,760 3,890 4,050 
			 England 4,110 4,240 4,410 
			  Note: Price base: real terms at 2006-07 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 26 September 2007.

Religion: Education

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he is taking steps to ensure that freedom to choose or not to choose religious faith is taught in all state schools.

Jim Knight: The Department, with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), has published a non-statutory framework for religious education which has been agreed by all the main faith groups and the British Humanist Association. The framework is based on tolerance and respect and provides that pupils should learn about: Christianity; at least two other principal religions; a religious community with a significant local presence, and a secular world view.

Schools: Buildings

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the quality of school buildings is assessed in Ofsted inspections.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 10 June 2008:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Inspectors do not make specific judgements on the quality of school buildings. However, the quality of the school buildings can influence judgements in a number of areasfor example, through their impact in enhancing or restricting curriculum and teaching; the effectiveness with which they are used; and whether they are maintained in line with health and safety guidance.
	Inspectors must reach a judgement on the following question: How effective are leadership and management in raising achievement and supporting all learners? In making this judgement, inspectors are asked to evaluate the adequacy and suitability of learning resources and accommodation, and how effectively and efficiently resources are deployed to achieve value for money.
	Reports do not routinely comment on the quality of school buildings unless the quality of a school's accommodation acts as a significant impediment to or as a benefit for its provision and outcomes for learners. A number of reports have commented on the impact of new buildings but, on a few occasions, inspectors have also used their reports to draw attention to shortcomings in the quality of accommodation.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Mr. Jim Knight, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Schools: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1789-90W, on schools: finance, what his latest estimate is of the cost pressures facing schools in 2008-09, using updated figures for the teachers' pay award, local pay implementation and local government pension provision; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: A broad assessment of cost pressures on schools is made in order to set the level of the minimum funding guarantee (MFG), the details of which were made in the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families' written reply of 12 May 2008 (205312).

Schools: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his latest estimate is of the percentage of schools which will receive budget increases in 2008-09 which will be lower than his Department's estimate of cost pressures; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The minimum funding guarantee is set at the level of the Department's broad assessment of average cost pressures, offset by efficiency savings. All schools will receive at least the minimum funding guarantee increase per pupil.

Schools: Isle of Wight

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what indications have been given to the Isle of Wight council of funding to be allocated from his Department to cover the cost of reorganising the education system on the Isle of Wight.

Jim Knight: The reorganisation of education provision on the Isle of Wight is a matter for local determination.
	Schools' capital allocations for the period covered by the comprehensive spending review (2008-11) were announced last autumn. The Isle of Wight local authority will benefit from 36.1 million of capital investment over this period. This includes an indicative allocation of 8.4 million to support the delivery of the primary capital programme and is subject to agreement of a primary strategy for change which all local authorities have been asked to submit by 16 June 2008. None of this funding is linked to or conditional upon the Isle of Wight council reorganising school provision.

Schools: Performing Arts

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many performing arts schools there are in England; and how many places there are at each establishment.

Jim Knight: 551 maintained schools in England are designated as having an arts specialism, of which 478 are Specialist Arts Colleges, 42 are specialist schools which have arts combined with another specialism and 31 are other specialist schools which have arts as a second specialism. Schools with an arts specialism may focus on the performing arts, visual arts or media arts, or combinations of the three; we do not keep records of which particular strands individual schools focus on. In addition, there are two Performing Arts Academies and the Brit Schoolthe only City College for the Technology of the Arts, which is dedicated to education and vocational training for the performing arts and associated technologies. Details of all of these schools, including the number of places within each establishment, has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Secondary Education: Liverpool

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions he has had in respect of secondary school provision in the Croxteth ward of the constituency of the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby; what plans his Department has to provide practical and financial assistance to establish a secondary school as a complement to the Emmaus Primary School; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: My noble Friend Lord Adonis has had discussions with representatives of the Emmaus Primary School, the local Catholic Diocese, and the local authority about developments in the Croxteth area of Liverpool. My Department has no plans to provide specific assistance to establish a secondary school in the area as a complement to the Emmaus Primary School. Proposals for schools with a religious character are made by the relevant faith bodies. We would expect the local authority to be the first port of call for any necessary capital funding, and that they will consider such investment as part of their overall strategy under the Building Schools for the Future initiative. Where in exceptional circumstances the local authority are genuinely unable to support worthwhile projects from their strategic capital funds, my Department has limited capital funding available to support new projects to increase standards and diversity.

Secondary Education: Standards

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of mainstream maintained secondary schools in each local education authority area have been classed as outstanding by Ofsted in the last five years for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 9 June 2008:
	You recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted began to judge schools as 'outstanding' with the introduction, in September 2005, of the current inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). This uses a four-point scale ranging from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate'. I will therefore provide data for the complete academic years 2005/06 and 2006/07, and the first two terms of 2007/08. Please note that while all the reports for inspections carried out in the first two terms of 2007/08 have been published, the summary data have not yet been placed in the public domain. These will be available on the Ofsted website from Wednesday 18 June.
	The attached table shows, for each year and part-year, and each local authority area, the number of maintained secondary schools (including academies and city technology colleges) judged to be outstanding, the total number inspected, and the resulting percentage. However, the percentages should be treated with caution due to the relatively small number of schools in each local authority.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Mr Jim Knight, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Special Educational Needs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many special educational needs statements were made in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information is shown in the following table. Further details can be found in table 3a of the Statistical First Release Special Educational Needs in England: January 2007 at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000732/index.shtml.
	
		
			  Total children for whom a statement was made for the first time in calendar year 
			   Number 
			 2002 30,720 
			 2003 28,780 
			 2004 25,990 
			 2005 24,040 
			 2006 22,600

Teachers: Resignations

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many qualified teachers under the age of 60 years employed in local authority maintained schools in  (a) Suffolk and  (b) the East of England left their posts in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the number of full and part-time regular teachers aged under 60 who left their posts in local authority maintained schools in the East of England Government office region in each year from 2001-02 to 2005-06, the latest information available. This information is not available by local authority.
	Teachers leaving their post are defined as those who left teaching service or went to a teaching post outside of the local authority maintained sector in England or who changed their school or employing authority. Teachers who left a full-time post to take up a part-time post or vice versa are also included.
	
		
			  Number of full and part-time regular teacher teachers in the local authority maintained sector leaving their post( 1) , 2001-02 to 2005-06, East of England Government office region 
			   Number 
			 2001-02 11,270 
			 2002-03 10,660 
			 2003-04 9,810 
			 2004-05(2) 9,440 
			 2005-06(2) 9,770 
			 (1) The number of teachers leaving their post may be slightly underestimated as around 10 to 20 per cent. of part-time teachers are missing from the data source. In addition, it is believed that not all moves between schools within local authorities are recorded. (2) Provisional estimates.  Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Database of Teachers Records.

Truancy: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils in secondary schools in  (a) Chorley and  (b) other areas in Lancashire were classed as non-persistent truants in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The available information relates to pupil enrolments not classed as persistent absentees (pupils who are absent for more than 20 per cent. of possible sessions of attendance) and is given in the following table.
	
		
			  State funded secondary schools( 1, 2) , pupil absence, 2006/07 
			   Number of enrolments( 3)  Percentage of enrolments who are 'not' classed as persistent absentees( 4) 
			  Lancashire local authority area 70,503 93.1 
			  Parliamentary constituencies in the Lancashire area   
			 Chorley 7,293 94.2 
			 Burnley 5,709 88.1 
			 Fylde 4,626 94.1 
			 Hyndburn 5,294 92.1 
			 Lancaster and Wyre 7,427 95.8 
			 Morecambe and Lunesdale 4,274 91.1 
			 Pendle 5,298 91.1 
			 Preston 3,639 89.5 
			 Ribble Valley 8,204 95.4 
			 South Ribble 7,669 95.6 
			 West Lancashire 5,919 93.7 
			 Rossendale and Darwen 6,762 92.8 
			 Blackpool North and Fleetwood 5,293 88.6 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes maintained secondary schools, academies and city technology colleges. (3) Number of enrolments in schools between from start of the school year until 25 May 2007. Includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between five and 15. Excludes boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the school year or are registered in more than one school). (4) A persistent absentee is defined as missing more than 63 sessions in the year, typically, missing more than 20 per cent. of the school year.  Source: School Census.

Vocational Guidance: Standards

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether there are plans for Ofsted to inspect local authorities' provision of Connexions.

Jim Knight: Connexions services are within the scope of joint area reviews of children's services, led by Ofsted, and from 2009 will be within the scope of inspections under new arrangements for comprehensive area assessment. We have no current plans to introduce a separate inspection programme regarding local authorities' Connexions provision.